Work in the construction industry is particularly tough. It demands excessively long hours and frequent weekend work. Other characteristics are particularly marked, such as re-location, job insecurity and distinctive behavioural patterns, which negatively affect employees' personal lives further. Work-life balance has emerged as one of the most pressing management issues in the 21st century. For construction managers dealing with traditional models of work and rigid work schedules, the issue may be especially difficult to manage, and yet the work-life balance is now recognised as an issue of strategic importance to the construction industry. It is critical to the construction industry's continued ability to attract and retain a talented workforce, and it is also inextricably linked to organizational effectiveness and employees' well-being. This book presents the argument for the management of work-life balance in the construction industry. It maps the changes to the workforce demographic profile and the changing expectations relating to work and personal life that occurred during the second half of the 20th century. Legal imperatives for managing work-life balance are set out. It also presents work-life balance theory and discusses the practical implications of research, along with extensive empirical data collected from the industry. Lastly, practical advice is provided about what construction organizations can and should do to manage work-life balance. This provides a unique guide to a key issue.

Work in the construction industry is particularly tough. It demands excessively long hours and frequent weekend work. Other characteristics are particularly marked, such as re-location, job insecurity and distinctive behavioural patterns, which negatively affect employees' personal lives further. Work-life balance has emerged as one of the most pressing management issues in the 21st century. For construction managers dealing with traditional models of work and rigid work schedules, the issue may be especially difficult to manage, and yet the work-life balance is now recognised as an issue of strategic importance to the construction industry. It is critical to the construction industry's continued ability to attract and retain a talented workforce, and it is also inextricably linked to organizational effectiveness and employees' well-being. This book presents the argument for the management of work-life balance in the construction industry. It maps the changes to the workforce demographic profile and the changing expectations relating to work and personal life that occurred during the second half of the 20th century. Legal imperatives for managing work-life balance are set out. It also presents work-life balance theory and discusses the practical implications of research, along with extensive empirical data collected from the industry. Lastly, practical advice is provided about what construction organizations can and should do to manage work-life balance. This provides a unique guide to a key issue.

This book covers a wide range of topics relating to the health and wellbeing of the construction workforce. Based on more than a decade of work examining various aspects of workers' health and wellbeing, the book addresses a key topic in construction management: how the design of work environments, construction processes and organisation of work impact upon construction workers' physical and psychological health. Occupational health is a significant problem for the construction industry. However, the subject of health is usually treated as an afterthought in other books which emphasise safety issues. Traditional management approaches (focused on the prevention of accidents and injuries) are arguably ill-suited to addressing issues of workers' health and wellbeing. The evidenced informed approach in this book provides a rich analysis of how construction workers' health and wellbeing are impacted by working in the construction industry, and critical information about how organisations (and decision-makers within them) can create workplaces and practices that are supportive and enable construction workers to maintain healthy and productive working lives. Including chapter summaries and discussion questions to encourage student readers to reflect on and formulate their own viewpoints about the issues raised in each chapter, the book has the potential to be used as a textbook in undergraduate or postgraduate occupational health and safety, or construction management courses dealing with occupational health and safety. It could also be used as supplementary, recommended reading in undergraduate or postgraduate programs in architecture, engineering or management.

This book covers a wide range of topics relating to the health and wellbeing of the construction workforce. Based on more than a decade of work examining various aspects of workers' health and wellbeing, the book addresses a key topic in construction management: how the design of work environments, construction processes and organisation of work impact upon construction workers' physical and psychological health. Occupational health is a significant problem for the construction industry. However, the subject of health is usually treated as an afterthought in other books which emphasise safety issues. Traditional management approaches (focused on the prevention of accidents and injuries) are arguably ill-suited to addressing issues of workers' health and wellbeing. The evidenced informed approach in this book provides a rich analysis of how construction workers' health and wellbeing are impacted by working in the construction industry, and critical information about how organisations (and decision-makers within them) can create workplaces and practices that are supportive and enable construction workers to maintain healthy and productive working lives. Including chapter summaries and discussion questions to encourage student readers to reflect on and formulate their own viewpoints about the issues raised in each chapter, the book has the potential to be used as a textbook in undergraduate or postgraduate occupational health and safety, or construction management courses dealing with occupational health and safety. It could also be used as supplementary, recommended reading in undergraduate or postgraduate programs in architecture, engineering or management.

With the increase in legislation and the drive for ever-greater efficiency and accountability, health and safety in construction is becoming an increasingly important subject. This book covers the essential issues that apply specifically to construction projects, including the nature and causes of occupational injury or illness, project organisation and OHS, OHS risk management, OHS legislation, the psychology of OHS, behavioural safety management, using IT to manage OHS, and OHS training.

Numerous case studies illustrate important points and refer to current successful safety management techniques, giving practical guidance to the practitioner and putting the issues into context for the student. This book will be of specific interest to clients, project managers, specialist consultants, designers, contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers.

With the increase in legislation and the drive for ever-greater efficiency and accountability, health and safety in construction is becoming an increasingly important subject. This book covers the essential issues that apply specifically to construction projects, including the nature and causes of occupational injury or illness, project organisation and OHS, OHS risk management, OHS legislation, the psychology of OHS, behavioural safety management, using IT to manage OHS, and OHS training.

Numerous case studies illustrate important points and refer to current successful safety management techniques, giving practical guidance to the practitioner and putting the issues into context for the student. This book will be of specific interest to clients, project managers, specialist consultants, designers, contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 2. Occupational Health and Safety Law 3. Organizational Issues 4. Systems Management of OHS 5. Managing OHS Risk 6. Ergonomics in Construction 7. The Psychology of OHS 8. Behavioural Safety Management 9. Innovation and IT in OHS Management 10. Conclusions