Risk prevention culture is progressing within construction companies, according to a survey.

The results reveal encouraging progress: companies are more demanding, workers are widely involved, and prevention is better integrated into the organization. However, disparities remain, particularly for VSEs, which struggle to manage prevention on their own. Similarly, while the OPPBTP is increasingly identified as a true partner, the prevention ecosystem remains unknown to VSEs and SMEs, which, unlike large companies, operate by entry keys, via a direct contact or based on a specific need.

Rich in lessons, the survey highlights the progress made by companies but also avenues for reflection to continue to advance prevention.

Prevention increasingly integrated

The study reveals a notable shift in the way risk prevention is perceived and implemented within construction companies. Indeed, 94% of construction workers feel concerned by the issue of prevention, and 59% believe that the topic concerns company and site managers as much as workers.

The actions implemented are generally understood and considered useful, particularly by the companions:

• 88% of workers and 76% of managers believe that prevention actions are appropriate and useful to the company.
• 87% of companions and 60% of managers think that these are easy to implement.
• 75% of workers and 60% of managers believe that prevention actions enable the company to be more efficient.

The implementation of the Single Document, effective in 8 out of 10 companies – a stable rate since 2016 – as well as the progress in the implementation of the associated action plan (64%; + 15 points vs 2020) and its updating (41%; + 8 points vs 2020) testify to this positive dynamic, even if 79% of companies declare that they are carrying it out above all to comply with the regulations.

Persistent difficulties for VSEs

While large companies have largely integrated prevention into their operations, this is less the case for very small businesses.

• While 97% of companies with 50 or more employees believe that prevention measures are appropriate and useful for their business, the figure drops to 75% for companies with 1 to 9 employees.
• The link between prevention and performance is also more difficult for very small businesses: 56% for companies with 1 to 9 businesses, compared to 88% for companies with 50 or more employees.
• These disparities are particularly evident in the completion of the DU: 78% of companies with fewer than 10 employees have completed it, compared to 100% of companies with more than 50 employees surveyed.

The qualitative aspect confirms these gaps: in VSEs, prevention is often managed "on an ad hoc basis," depending mainly on the will of the manager. Conversely, in large companies, prevention is "institutionalized," with dedicated functions, comprehensive protocols, and widely shared best practices.

The limits of prevention: a gap between theory and reality

While the culture of prevention is progressing, the study also reveals persistent limitations, particularly among workers. Many feel a gap between the rules and the reality of construction sites: standards that are difficult to apply in restrictive conditions (small spaces, poor ventilation), equipment deemed uncomfortable or unsuitable, and the use of temporary workers that sometimes falls outside the regulatory framework.

Awareness-raising formats are also considered insufficiently appropriate: too theoretical, repetitive, sometimes patronizing, and often designed for managers rather than employees. Companions express the need for simple and concrete support to better respond to unforeseen or non-compliant situations.

Finally, the issue of wearing PPE illustrates these difficulties: only 6 out of 10 companions say they wear them systematically. When they don't wear them, 53% find them bothersome, 39% consider them unnecessary all the time, and 25% admit to forgetting them.

OPPBTP, a key partner for businesses

The OPPBTP has seen a significant improvement in its reputation, becoming a true partner for risk prevention in the construction sector.

• The percentage of managers familiar with the OPPBTP has jumped 14 points in five years, reaching 92% in 2025. It is also the primary source of information cited by companies to obtain answers regarding prevention (37%), ahead of professional unions (35%), internet searches (19%) and health services (14%).
• The organization enjoys a positive image, which is still improving among those who know it. Indeed, 78% of the managers surveyed and 75% of the workers believe that the OPPBTP offers appropriate solutions to develop risk prevention (+6 points compared to 2020). In addition, 77% of managers and 78% of workers believe that the Organization has a good understanding of the prevention issues faced by companies in the sector (+7 points compared to 2020).
• This growing awareness is notably driven by the various thematic campaigns carried out: 78% of leaders and 71% of companions remember at least one campaign carried out by the OPPBTP over the last five years.
• The majority believe that they have contributed to raising awareness (70% of managers and 79% of companions) and to triggering concrete actions in companies (59% of managers and 75% of companions).

Levers to activate to continue progressing

Furthermore, the study highlights several issues and avenues for action to continue the prevention dynamic and respond to the future challenges of the construction sector, which will help guide the Organization's next strategic plan:

• Supporting SMEs: Although aware of the importance of prevention, they remain excluded from the overall prevention ecosystem. The survey highlights that only 31% of companies with 1 to 9 employees prefer the OPPBTP as their first point of contact for prevention, compared to 83% for companies with more than 50 employees. They also often have difficulty accessing relevant information. The OPPBTP is therefore considering implementing a more targeted information campaign, particularly through educational and simplified materials.
• Mixing communication formats: Not all companies have the same needs in terms of prevention formats. The OPPBTP therefore intends to offer a diversified offering: simple videos, posters for workshops, and interactive modules on social networks to reach younger people.
• Uniting around prevention: Small business leaders express difficulty getting their teams to adhere to good safety practices. To promote a better understanding of the issues, the OPPBTP can provide collaborative tools such as applications or welcome booklets, allowing employees to actively participate in risk management.
• Making prevention attractive: The construction sector is struggling to recruit, particularly due to the often difficult working conditions. The OPPBTP can work with companies to promote prevention as a recruitment tool, by promoting safety, well-being at work, and continuing education, in order to attract a new generation concerned about their working conditions.

For Paul Duphil, Secretary General of the OPPBTP: "This new survey highlights significant progress in addressing occupational risk prevention in the construction industry. However, one of the major challenges for the OPPBTP remains reaching out to VSEs, some of whom are still relatively unengaged in prevention. These results will help us refine our future strategic plan, which will begin next year. We will take their concerns and expectations into account to provide them with the best possible support and together achieve our common goal: reducing workplace accidents."

[1] Survey of managers conducted by telephone from January 28 to February 19, 2025, with 1.100 companies for the quantitative component and 30 companies for the qualitative component. Survey of journeymen conducted from May 7 to 19, 2025, with a sample of 300 construction employees working on construction sites. Two complementary two-hour focus groups were conducted on May 12 and 14, 2025 with 18 construction journeymen representing various sectors of activity, company sizes and ages.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.