Despite increased safety investments in the civil construction sector, high accident rates persist, often due to workers’ intentional unsafe behaviors influenced by poorly understood psychological factors. This study utilized validated interpretative structural modeling (VISM), an innovative technique, to investigate factors impacting the well-being and risk perception of construction workers in the Brazilian Amazon. The VISM model was developed through five steps: (1) identification of indicators; (2) definition of constructs; (3) identification of relationships between constructs; (4) validation of these relationships; and (5) creation of the model. The results underscore the effectiveness of VISM in crafting complex models with robust statistical validity, even in studies with sample limitations and intricate or circular relationships among constructs. The research identified various factors in this phenomenon, such as the importance given by management to workplace safety, job dissatisfaction, work-related stress, turnover intention, work–family balance, alcohol and cigarette use, physical health, perception of accident risks at work, and education and training in workplace safety. Another significant contribution lies in the model’s ability to discern both direct and indirect relationships among these well-being factors. This insight enables the formulation of strategies to enhance worker well-being and reduce workplace accidents, particularly those stemming from intentional unsafe behaviors.

Meeting the needs of users is imperative in construction, especially those of low-income people. This research looks into the perceptions of low-income users concerning green building (GB) and discusses how building sustainability can contribute to improving their lives. To this end, a model was developed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) relating the perceptions on residents’ quality of life with the GB criteria of Blue House Label (Selo Casa Azul—SCA), a Brazilian Sustainable Label. This model was based on data from a survey with 658 residents of the ‘Minha Casa, Minha Vida—MCMV’ (My Home, My Life) program, which is part of the Brazilian social housing system. The results of the model suggest that intangible issues such as the environmental protection criteria related to the construction of the building are not capable of influencing their perception of quality of life in the project. On the other hand, GB criteria capable of providing more practical benefits to low-income residents were broadly accepted, such as urban quality, GBT related to cost reduction, water management, and social practices. Furthermore, this article contributes to the discussion about sustainable social housing, the importance of adopting social criteria in GB, and the potential of environmental education to contribute to meeting sustainable development goals (SDG).

The new Brazilian building performance standard is a landmark in terms of housing regulation in Brazil. Nevertheless, due to the standard recent release, it becomes essential to make its requirements compatible with users’ needs. This work has the objective to evaluate the acoustic performance requirements of buildings based on the users’ perceptions of acoustic comfort. In order to do this, field tests were performed and surveys were applied to the users. The results demonstrate that the requirements defined by the Brazilian norm are unsuitable to meet the users’ necessities. The correlation analysed shows a clear perception of the habitants in relation to the transmitted noise through the slabs and walls. These unsatisfactory results concern the acoustic performance of impact noise between slabs, as well as internal and external walls, showing that construction companies must implement new solutions that can provide greater acoustic performance to achieve acoustic comfort to the users.

The construction industry is known to present various stress-inducing conditions for its workforce, especially for workers under different employment arrangements. This research aims to investigate the influence of employment status (permanent and temporary workers) on the perception of well-being at work (WBW). The study also aims to assess whether variables such as satisfaction, commitment, and involvement are statistically significant in evaluating construction workers’ WBW. The research was conducted at various construction sites located in the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 376 responses were obtained using the Work Well-being Inventory (IBET-13) questionnaire. A multiple linear regression model was constructed to understand the relationship between self-perceived well-being (dependent variable) by employees and employment status, satisfaction, commitment, and involvement at work (independent variables). The results suggest that the employment arrangement does not significantly impact the evaluation of well-being, indicating that other factors may mediate the relationship between WBW and mental health, as well as contribute to explaining this result, such as current legislation, occupational characteristics, and unique aspects of the Brazilian reality. The research findings can contribute to the development of strategies that promote a more sustainable and healthy construction environment for workers.

Green Building Labels (GBLs) provide a global framework for certifying more sustainable buildings, offering benefits for user health, comfort, and society. However, the number of certified Green Buildings (GBs) in developing countries remains low compared to developed nations. To promote GBL adoption in Brazil, this study developed a strategic model using the Validated Interpretative Structural Modeling (VISM) technique. The model was built using data from a survey conducted with 78 stakeholders from the Brazilian GB industry. The results indicate that (1) government-led strategies play a central role in GB certification, primarily through the regulation and enforcement of environmental policies; (2) certification entities can boost GBL adoption in developing countries by enabling greater implementation of low-cost Green Building Technologies (GBTs); and (3) government and corporate leadership in GBL adoption can allow small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enter the market. The proposed model contributes to the body of knowledge on sustainable construction, particularly within developing country contexts such as Brazil.