Identifying risks for construction workers|Percezione del rischio nei lavoratori dei cantieri

Even today building sites represent the places of work with the highest number of fatal injuries in Italy. So it is important for workers to have a good knowledge of the risks related to building sites. The aim of this study is to analyze the risk perception in construction workers. We examined 76 workers divided into 40 apprentices (18-29) and 36 employers. They answered eight multiple choice questions. The results of the test suggested a higher risk perception, better knowledge of IPD and fire regulations in apprentices than in employers. There were no differences between the two groups in knowledge on health surveillance, law no626 and risks from asbestos. Our results can be explained by the ever more frequent training and information for workers and the better predisposition of apprentices to learn new techniques for working in safety. On the contrary it is difficult to create the culture of prevention in older workers who are accustomed to working with risks without the measures of prevention. This way of thinking can have negative consequences on building site safety when the aging worker is also the employer and as such he should control that his workers respect the principles of prevention and safety.