An assessment of workplace health & safety in the construction industry : the case of Serbians working in Malta

Abstract

The construction environment is prone to problems that are difficult to resolve when it comes to health and safety at the workplace. Additionally, the use of migrant workers in the industry has increased exponentially and these circumstances are creating higher health and safety risks in construction sites including Malta. It is within this scenario that the research study investigates the extent to which Serbian workers are exposed to higher health and safety risks due to discrimination based on ethnic origin. The methodology applied is the pragmatist-interpretivist philosophy supported by an inductive approach and a mono-method type, survey strategy. The quantitative data collection applies the survey questionnaire based a non-probability, snowball sampling of Serbian construction workers. The result reveal that Serbian workers have a negative opinion about health and safety enforcement with claims of discrimination by managers and the Maltese construction companies’ management approach towards health and safety when enforcing rules and regulations and taking corrective actions for non-conformities with Serbian workers is weak and ineffective. Furthermore, the study uncovered the notion that lack of enforcement, language barriers and lack of appreciation of diversity at the workplace are the major health and safety issues faced Serbian workers. The study recommends that construction firms shall undertake a climate survey amongst managers to establish the management view on the claims of discrimination amongst Serbian workers where health and safety in construction is involved The study further recommends that the construction industry entrepreneurs hall hold a seminar-workshop with the title: Enhancing Awareness and Appreciation of Health & Safety amongst Serbian workers and the Management of Construction firms operating in Malta that can potentially reduce the gap between the perceived view of Serbian workers and the management of construction firms on claims of discrimination in health and safety enforcement.