1 Proposal of a New Academic Frame for the Civil Engineering Education in Construction Safety and Health Authors:

Abstract Labor accident rate constitutes, nowadays, one of the main worries of the western societies and governments, especially in Spain, where the fatality ratio is far above the European average in the construction industry. This paper carries out an analysis of the university education in construction safety and health. An important deficit is detected in the civil engineering professionals, derived by a specific lack of academic education in construction safety and health. The causes of this deficit are shown and explained. Furthermore, the paper wants to meet the challenge of proposing a new academic frame that improves the current situation. This problem can be approached by two procedures. The first one (a long term solution) is to modify the university program (syllabus). The other one (a short-term solution) is to adapt some courses in order to focus the teaching in construction safety and health. A change in the syllabus involves a slow administrative process and a previous debate by the university faculty. Because of this reason, the second alternative is chosen; it implies the adjustment of some courses. For a suitable development of this proposal, an Educational Guide in Construction Safety is outlined; it may introduce the culture of construction safety and health in the curricula of the civil engineering students. The authors understand that the university has to face the worries and demands of the society and must contribute with its experience and scientific knowledge to the creation of a better environment in the Spanish constructio