Comment by somenameforme
3 hours ago
That is not how construction works. In construction you're generally paid hourly, and workers can often be aware of issues that may not be readily apparent to management. Construction workers play a very active role in the process and are largely responsible for overall outcomes, not only for the building but for themselves as well. Good, skilled, experienced construction workers and you're generally going to have a pretty good outcome. Poor quality workers and you're going to have a poor quality outcome far more than otherwise necessary.
It's generally management that has the desire to rush the project forward and may be looking to cut corners. Good workers help create a favorable balance between economic concerns and practical outcomes. But needless to say when you get a bunch of workers who are just the cheapest possible, may have fabricated experience, and who will generally be willing to do anything to not risk losing their job, it's going to create a very dangerous situation for both themselves and the job at hand.
> Good workers help create a favorable balance between economic concerns and practical outcomes.
Workers soon become inured to their daily risks and will adopt unsafe working practices if it increases their efficiency. Sure, they'll complain about other people's working practices if they pose a danger to them, but they will not self-regulate. If you doubt this look at the builders working on small jobs like domestic roofs and extensions where there is no management. They will not be following the rules.
I'm talking about my experience of the UK. I guess you're talking about America. The incentives are different. Not least because many British workers are self-employed and working "on a price". The big construction firms directly employ approximately nobody.