As a rule construction industry is identified as a branch with versatile health and safety problems. The general level of occupational health and safety varies by time and space. In spite of this variation, the status of construction as dangerous work seems to remain relatively stable. These two studies attempt to clarify the nature of construction work and its safety problems from the sociological point of view. The aim of this paper is to present material for further discussion regarding the connections between occupational safety and general structural features of working life.