Citation

Jensen PL, Laustsen S, Jensen E. Pol. Pract. Health Saf. 2010; 8(2): 37-55.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (Great Britain))

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Including occupational safety and health requirements in the call for tenders is a common strategy aimed at improving health and safety performance in contracting enterprises. Following guidance passed by the Danish parliament in 2003, labour market parties in the building industry agreed to encourage public developers (those responsible for construction in the public sector) and their consultants to formulate occupational safety and health requirements covering the construction process. The purpose was to improve health and safety on building sites. Such requirements, however, may put pressure on small contractors, who may not be familiar with occupational safety and health management. This study analyses the possibilities for small contractors to fulfil the occupational safety and health requirements of the developer, and how to handle any obstacles that would prevent them from doing so. Twenty case studies were selected: 10 where occupational safety and health requirements were formulated and 10 where no requirements were formulated. In all 20 cases, interviews were conducted with developers to understand the rationale behind formulating, or not formulating, occupational safety and health requirements in the tender materials. In those cases where requirements were formulated, 14 small contractors were interviewed. The interviews focused on barriers against using such requirements and how to implement the requirements. The data show that small contractors value developers giving priority to occupational safety and health and ensuring compliance. Both developers and contractors support a proactive approach to occupational safety and health, as such an approach may act as a catalyst to creating a better and safer construction site. The study does not provide developers with guidelines on how to draft tender documents that cover health and safety requirements, but it does highlight that the priority developers give to occupational safety and health should be expressed not only in providing guidelines on how to meet documentation requirements, but also in a willingness to assist the contractor in preparing the documentation and in developing the corresponding practice. This is elaborated in a theoretical analysis, which provides a conceptual framework for strategising in this field.