Cultural knowledge of women in the construction industry related to occupational health and safety

Abstract

The following study identifies and describes the cultural knowledge of women working in the construction industry regarding occupational health and safety. Data was gathered on 6 female construction workers, using the techniques of participant observation and the ethnographic interview. Results of the field observation and the interviews revealed that the women had a high level of knowledge of many work place hazards. They were also aware of kinds of accidents and injuries and a number of ways of cutting down on the hazards. Less was known about chronic, progressive, as opposed to acute injury. Despite their belief that most accidents were preventable, the women described a variety of reasons for not taking precautions. The major reasons given involved peer pressure and lack of time.