Characteristics of the construction industry in China and suggestions

The construction industry in China has been growing extremely fast with the rapid growing China economics. In 2006, there were 28.37 million construction workers in China. Meanwhile, construction safety and ergonomics is facing the high pressure. It is conservatively estimated that the 3,000 construction workers are killed in work-related accidents every year in China. Construction is one of the worst industries in terms of both fatal and nonfatal accidents.

The construction industry in China has its own characteristics: First, eighty percent of construction workers are farmer workers. They still have their own lands in their hometown but they move to cities to be construction workers. If they were laid off, they always can go back to their hometown as farmers. They have relatively low level education. Many have little more than a junior high school diploma. Second, most of construction workers are self-taught. There is no certification requirement to be a construction worker in China. Third, China did not have a comprehensive worker compensation law until January 2004. Even now, this regulation is still voluntary.

Because of the unique situation in China, some strategies could be considered: First is to improve construction worker certification system with strict pre-work training programs. Second is to improve the worker compensation system. A construction certification system could provide basic knowledge and skills about occupational safety, occupational ergonomics and industrial hygiene. It is an efficient way to help prevent accidents. Worker compensation can minimize the consequence for both employees and employers.