The importance of building maintenance has grown in the construction sector, gradually overtaking the idea that the construction ends when the product is delivered. This study aimed to evaluate the condition of some high-rise building maintenance worksites in Recife, regarding their compliance with Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) regulations, and to identify key gaps in the building's design that can generate maintenance risks. The maintenance services of eight buildings, between October 2008 and February 2009, were analyzed according to a checklist based on the current Brazilian OSH standards and laws. Deficiencies in the buildings' architectural design, irregularities in safety procedures, and lack of knowledge by managers responsible for contracting and monitoring maintenance companies were observed. It was found that the planning and design of a building are vital to ensure workers' safety during the maintenance phase. The need to develop further studies to establish safety guidelines for building project development that anticipate maintenance and security needs for workers was verified.
Building maintenance; Occupational safety and health (OSH); Construction; OSH management; Project management
