Boels survey highlights safety concerns in construction

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A Boels Rental survey has found that a quarter of Dutch construction professionals do not believe a future free of fatal workplace accidents is achievable.

The latest Boels Rental Construction Index, carried out by Markteffect among 402 Dutch people working in the construction industry, revealed that 25% of workers remain skeptical about eliminating fatalities on job sites, a figure that has remained virtually unchanged from last year’s 26%.

It found that concerns over job site safety are on the up, with 23% of construction professionals reporting increasing worries about workplace conditions.

This anxiety is influencing work decisions, it said, as 35% of respondents admitted to turning down jobs due to unsafe working conditions (up from 30% in 2024). 

Despite heightened safety concerns, many professionals do not attribute the issues to their own practices or those of their colleagues, with almost half (49%) of respondents saying that their peers meet the required qualifications.

The survey also found that 23% admitted to operating equipment without proper authorisation, but that number has dropped to 10% when compared with 2024.

Similarly, only 11% reported using unsafe machinery, down from 24% last year.

Economic pressures are also playing a role in workplace safety, it added, with rising costs said to have led to budget reductions for safety measures (15% of professionals noted a decrease in available funds for safety initiatives).

Additionally, 10% reported that the increased cost of personal protective equipment (PPE) has resulted in reduced purchases or lower-quality gear.

Sven Janssen, health & safety manager at Boels Rental, said, “If construction professionals do not consider their own working methods to be the cause of the safety issues, then it is time to look at the conditions in which they work. High costs in the construction industry are one of the reasons why these risks persist.

“That should never be used to justify a compromise on safety. The combination of realistic planning, stricter management and better safety provisions together with targeted training can ensure safer construction sites. Not just through rules, but through action.”