Professional multiliteracy as a promoter of occupational safety in the construction sector – MonTTu
Objectives
A construction professional’s workday includes a wide range of communication that involves not only text but also images, sound, video and gestures. Such a variety in communication requires professional multiliteracy. In this project, we examine occupational safety communications from the perspective of professional multiliteracy.
Our goal is to:
- find out what professional multiliteracy is in construction and its significance for occupational safety,
- find out what factors hinder or support the development of professional multiliteracy at work, and
- develop communication practices to promote occupational safety.
Data and methods
Over the course of the project, we will gather qualitative material through interviews, surveys and observations of communication situations at building construction sites. Our research methods combine the analysis of literary practices with core task analysis. In workshops that analyze communication situations, we apply the methodologies of developmental work research and develop functional communication practices.
Results and impact
This study will further our understanding of occupational safety communications and specifically highlights the significance of nonverbal communication for occupational safety. It expands the understanding of professional multiliteracy, which is necessary in the construction sector, and its role in promoting occupational safety. The project also exposes communication-related occupational safety risks and good practices.
Based on the study, we will produce recommendations for the construction industry on the most effective communication practices in terms of occupational safety and smooth workflows. In addition, we will prepare practical material for workplaces that can be used to identify occupational safety-related multimodal communication practices, i.e. ones that combine multiple senses, especially in informal communications. This material will also support their development at the workplace.
Ask about the project
Tarja Heikkilä
Project leader, senior specialist
Research group
Partners
This is a joint study with the University of Jyväskylä. The principal researcher is Sari Sulkunen, sari.sulkunen [at] jyu.fi (sari[dot]sulkunen[at]jyu[dot]fi)
Funded by
The Finnish Work Environment Fund, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, the University of Jyväskylä
