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Improving Construction Safety: The Role of Workplace Stressors and Personality Traits on Near-Miss Recognition of Workers’

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Digital Human Modeling and Applications in Health, Safety, Ergonomics and Risk Management (HCII 2024)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 14711))

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Abstract

The construction industry, despite safety enhancements, remains hazardous. Hazard identification and near-miss reporting are pivotal in preventing accidents. However, the dynamic nature of construction work and workplace stress can impede safety recognition ability. Despite previous studies employing stress loading to assess workers’ safety behavior and its influence on hazard recognition among construction workers, there has been no empirical investigation into the direct impact of mental and auditory stressors on workers’ psychophysiological indicators during near-miss recognition activities. This study investigates the impact of personality traits and stress on construction workers’ cognitive abilities during near-miss recognition tasks. Thirty-five participants underwent an eye-tracking experiment with mental and auditory stressors. Personality traits were assessed through self-reported questionnaires, while physiological data were collected using wearable devices. Results revealed increased stress levels during stressor trials, significantly affecting cognitive load and visual attention. Workers with low conscientiousness and openness/intellect exhibited heightened attention to “fatal four” near-miss opportunities. The findings emphasize the influence of workplace stressors on construction workers’ cognitive abilities during near-miss recognition and establish a significant relationship between personality traits and performance in recognizing near-miss incidents. This study provides evidence supporting the development of personalized training programs tailored to at-risk individuals. By addressing specific personality traits associated with lower near-miss identification abilities, these tailored programs aim to enhance workers’ recognition skills. Therefore, the contribution from this study would work towards fostering a robust safety culture within the construction sector, aligning to achieve zero incidents and promote overall workplace safety.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bert S. Turner Department of Construction Management, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Shashank Muley & Chao Wang

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  1. Shashank Muley
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  2. Chao Wang
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Correspondence to Shashank Muley .

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  1. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    Vincent G. Duffy

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Muley, S., Wang, C. (2024). Improving Construction Safety: The Role of Workplace Stressors and Personality Traits on Near-Miss Recognition of Workers’. In: Duffy, V.G. (eds) Digital Human Modeling and Applications in Health, Safety, Ergonomics and Risk Management. HCII 2024. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14711. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-61066-0_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-61066-0_6

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