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Construction Worker Risk-Taking Behavior Model with Individual and Organizational Factors

Author

Listed:
  • Banus Kam Leung Low

    (Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Siu Shing Man

    (Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Alan Hoi Shou Chan

    (Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Saad Alabdulkarim

    (Industrial Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, P.O. Box 145111, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Behavioral-based safety is an important application of behavioral science that can be used to address safety problems in the construction sector. An understanding of construction worker risk-taking behavior is deemed to be a crucial basis on which concerned authorities and construction companies can develop effective safety interventions to reduce construction accidents. However, no studies have been conducted to examine the effects of safety climate, work condition, attitude toward risk, cognitive bias, and risk perception on construction worker risk-taking behavior through a quantitative approach. Accordingly, this study aims to propose a research model that explains construction worker risk-taking behavior. A total of 188 valid datasets were obtained through a series of questionnaire surveys conducted in representative construction projects in Hong Kong. Confirmatory factor analysis with structural equation modeling was adopted to validate the hypothesized research model. Results show that attitudes toward risk and cognitive bias have a positive influence, whereas risk perception and work conditions have a negative influence on construction worker risk-taking behavior. In addition, safety climate was negatively correlated with construction worker risk-taking behavior. Practical recommendations for reducing construction worker risk-taking behavior are also discussed in this paper.

Suggested Citation

  • Banus Kam Leung Low & Siu Shing Man & Alan Hoi Shou Chan & Saad Alabdulkarim, 2019. "Construction Worker Risk-Taking Behavior Model with Individual and Organizational Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:8:p:1335-:d:222608
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Waleed Umer & Mohsin K. Siddiqui, 2020. "Use of Ultra Wide Band Real-Time Location System on Construction Jobsites: Feasibility Study and Deployment Alternatives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-25, March.
    3. Siu Shing Man & Ruifeng Yu & Tingru Zhang & Alan Hoi Shou Chan, 2022. "How Optimism Bias and Safety Climate Influence the Risk-Taking Behavior of Construction Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-14, January.
    4. Gui Ye & Hongzhe Yue & Jingjing Yang & Hongyang Li & Qingting Xiang & Yuan Fu & Can Cui, 2020. "Understanding the Sociocognitive Process of Construction Workers’ Unsafe Behaviors: An Agent-Based Modeling Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-33, March.
    5. Zhen Li & Rui Mao & Qing Feng Meng & Xin Hu & Hong Xian Li, 2021. "Exploring Precursors of Construction Accidents in China: A Grounded Theory Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-16, January.
    6. Gabriel Ibarra-Mejía & Karla Gabriela Gómez-Bull & María Marisela Vargas-Salgado, 2021. "Differences in Workplace Risk Perception between Foreign-Born and First-Generation Mexican American Construction Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-10, May.
    7. Anas A. Makki & Ibrahim Mosly, 2020. "Determinants for Safety Climate Evaluation of Construction Industry Sites in Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-10, November.
    8. Felipe Muñoz-La Rivera & Javier Mora-Serrano & Eugenio Oñate, 2021. "Factors Influencing Safety on Construction Projects (fSCPs): Types and Categories," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-30, October.
    9. Ibrahim Mosly & Anas A. Makki, 2020. "Safety Climate Perceptions in the Construction Industry of Saudi Arabia: The Current Situation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-16, September.

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