scholarly journals Deciphering Why 'Cursed Construction Workers' are More Vulnerable to Occupational Accidents

10.29007/wmdk ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa Namian ◽  
Donna Hollar ◽  
Farshid Taherpour ◽  
Ebrahim Ghiasvand
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Occupational Accidents ◽  
Workplace Hazards ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Accident Causation ◽  
Safety Attitude ◽  
Superstitious Beliefs

The construction industry has high rates of accidents, but most can be prevented. To prevent accidents, researchers have demonstrated that workers must first identify workplace hazards. However, workers fail to identify most hazards in construction environments. Previous studies report several factors (i.e., safety attitude) that impact construction workers' ability to recognize hazards. However, the role of superstitious beliefs in safety performance has not been studied. This research investigates how construction workers’ superstitious beliefs impact their safety performance. To achieve the objectives, 135 construction workers participated in this study. The workers’ safety beliefs and the role of supernatural myths in accident causation perception were studied through use of a validated survey instrument. Results revealed that the greater workers’ superstitious beliefs, the more inferior their safety performance. Driven by superstitions, a worker believes that accidents are caused by supernatural powers and workers have little control over their fate resulting in inferior safety performance (i.e., hazard recognition). Poor safety performance, in turn, makes workers more vulnerable to accidents strengthening their superstitious beliefs. Results of this study highlight the role of personal superstitious beliefs in safety performance. Findings are beneficial for construction professionals and practitioners seeking long-lasting and effective interventions to improve safety performance.

The Role of Human Factors and Safety Culture in Safety Management

1995 ◽  
Vol 209 (5) ◽  
pp. 393-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
R T Booth ◽  
T R Lee
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Safety Culture ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
Accident Causation

The paper describes the evolution of safety management and the part played by human factors in accident causation. It identifies the key elements of effective safety management and suggests that a crucial determinant of good safety performance is the safety culture of the organization. A plan is outlined for reviewing and improving safety culture with the support of a detailed safety culture promptlist.

The Role of the Big Five Personality Factors on Accident: A Case of Accidents in Construction Industries

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-43
Author(s):  
Mehdi Pourmazaherian ◽  
Shadiya Mohammed S. Baqutayan ◽  
Durishah Idrus
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Big Five ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
The Other ◽  
Occupational Accidents ◽  
Personality Factors ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
Occupational Accident ◽  
Safety Behavior

Limited research has been undertaken to explore how construction workers’ personality affects safety behavior. Most of the previous literature in the field of health and safety especially in the construction industry has been focusing on managerial, non-occupational accident,s or somewhat other aspect accident causation. Indeed, construction is known as one of the most dangerous industries globally, therefore, this study estimates the importance of personality traits in relation to risk behavior in the workplace. The objective is to review and identify which dimension of personality traits (big five models) are more effective on occupational accident to suggest a new model that is helpful in the construction industry in order to reduce the accident rate. The finding showed that neuroticism, agreeableness, and conscientiousness compare to the other personality traits are more effective on both occupational/non-occupational accidents, while, the effect of agreeableness and conscientiousness on improving safety performance was overwhelming. On the other hand, there is little evidence to show the meaningful and efficient connection between occupational accidents and extraversion. Extraversion and openness were appropriate only to affect non-occupational accidents. Finally, this research presents the appropriate model which is worthwhile to improve the safety performance in the construction industry.

scholarly journals Occupational accidents and injuries among workers in the construction industry of Windhoek, Namibia

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Maano Nghitanwa ◽  
Zungu Lindiwe
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Occupational Diseases ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Young Male ◽  
Body Part ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Occupational Accidents ◽  
General Body ◽  
Document Review

The construction industry is the most dangerous industry in the word with higher prevalence of occupational accidents, injuries and diseases. There is a paucity of studies that investigate occupational accidents, injuries and diseases in the Namibian construction industry. The study was conducted to determine the magnitude of occupational accidents, injuries and diseases in the construction industry of Windhoek, Namibia. A quantitative, retrospective document review was conducted to investigate the documents for reported occupational accidents, injuries and diseases for the period of five years, from April 2011 to March 2016. Data was analysed with SPSS version 23.The study found out that occupational accidents and injuries are prevalent in the Windhoek construction industry. The study recorded the total of 37 cases of occupational accidents and injuries. Young, male construction workers are mostly sustained accidents and injuries. Labourers were mostly affected than other occupations while cut by machinery comprise the majority of the source of accidents. The most body part injured is the general body. The researchers did not find any documentation for reported occupational diseases from the construction industry of Windhoek. The researchers recommended the preventive measures to be implemented to prevent occupational accidents and injuries and enforcement of legislations on occupational accidents, injuries and diseases recording and reporting.

The relationship between safety attitude and safety performance in the petrochemical industry: The mediating role of safety climate

Work ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Sanaz Karimpour ◽  
Fereshteh Jahani ◽  
Gholam Abbas Shirali
Keyword(s):  
Petrochemical Industry ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Safety Climate ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
Statistical Population ◽  
Safety Attitudes ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Safety Attitude ◽  
The Relationship

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between safety attitudes and safety performance considering the mediating role of safety climate in the petrochemical industry. METHOD: The statistical population of this study included all 1700 employees in the petrochemical industry of Iran, among whom 320 were randomly selected as the participants and completed the research questionnaire. Then, the validity (content, convergent, and divergent) and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability) of the instrument were examined, and the research hypotheses were tested using Smart partial least squares (PLS) software. RESULTS: The results showed that the model has goodness of fit and, thereby, the positive effect of safety attitude on safety performance was confirmed. In addition, the mediating role of safety climate in the relationship between safety attitude and safety performance was proved. That is, 39.6% of the total effect of safety attitude on safety performance was explained through the mediating role of safety climate. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study can improve safety culture and bring about excellent safety performance in petrochemical industries.

Problems Faced By Construction Workers Of Hisar City

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rupal Hooda ◽  
Manju Mehta
Keyword(s):  
Women Workers ◽  
Labor Force ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
General Information ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Occupational Accidents ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
The Government ◽  
Unorganized Sector

A large number of workers are engaged in the construction sector. Out of them approximately 30% are women workers. Construction industry is the major source of employment for workers in the unorganized sector. In India, construction industry is the second largest employer when compared to agriculture and covers others allied field of activities in the civil, mechanical and electrical area also. The Indian construction labor force is 7.5% of the total world labor force and it contributes to 16.4% of fatal global occupational accidents. A study was conducted on 30 construction workers working on different sites of hisar city. A questionnaire was used for collecting general information and for specific information. Data reveals that 56.66% of the respondents were in 26-35 years of age group followed by 86% of the respondents were married. 63.33% of the respondents were living in village. 83.33% of the respondents’ family consists of more than 5 members followed by 73.33% of the respondents’ family has two earning members. Body discomfort level was also analyzed by using Relative Important Index. Conclusively, Construction sector falls under unorganized sector of an economy. They are working under unsecured environment or work culture. The scenario only can be changed with the government intervention, by implementing the policies strictly.

scholarly journals Informalization of Metropolitan Labour Forces: The Case of Irish Immigrants in the New York Construction Industry

1991 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary P. Corcoran
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
York City ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Irish Immigrants ◽  
Informal Economies ◽  
Independent Variable

This paper discusses Sassen's model of informalization in advanced urban economies, and in particular, its application to the construction industry in New York City. The validity of the model is assessed in light of the ethnographic accounts of Irish construction workers, which deal with both the formal and informal economies within the construction sector. While the findings are generally compatible with Sassen's model, the paper concludes that greater attention needs to be paid to the role of ethnicity as an independent variable operating in the labour market.

scholarly journals Establishing Underlying Structures of Safety Performance Measures Using Factor Analysis of Data on Construction Workers in Gauteng, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-64
Author(s):  
Chioma Sylvia Okoro ◽  
Innocent Musonda
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Psychometric Evaluation ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Gauteng Province

The health and safety (H&S) of site workers in the construction industry has been overwhelmingly studied for decades. However, there is scant literature which analyses underlying structures of safety performance measures especially as related to their unhealthy and unsafe eating behavior. The paper presents findings on an exploratory factor analysis of H&S performance measures. A 10-item questionnaire which was developed after an extensive literature review was used to collect empirical data on SP of construction workers in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Findings revealed that safety performance of site workers could be reasonably measured by two constructs. The two constructs were clearly defined as trailing and prevailing. The emerged trailing measures were named lagging indicators while the prevailing ones were designated as leading indicators. The results support extant literature which advocates the use of both leading and lagging safety performance indicators for effectively assessing construction workers’ safety performance. The study provides evidence which could be beneficial in psychometric evaluation of construction workers’ safety performance and behaviours on construction sites.Keywords: construction workers, factor analysis, Gauteng, safety performance 

scholarly journals Sleep duration and fatigue in construction workers: A preliminary study

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 2496-2504
Author(s):  
Ximena Ferrada ◽  
Silvia Barrios ◽  
Patricia Masalan ◽  
Solange Campos-Romero ◽  
Juan Carrillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Occupational Accidents ◽  
Psychomotor Vigilance Test ◽  
The Difference

Abstract The construction industry is known for its high rate of accidents. Among the different possible causes of this situation, we could find lack of sleep and fatigue. Chronic sleep deprivation is a determining factor in the deterioration of vigilance and alert, and consequently a risk factor for occupational accidents. Fatigue is the answer of our organism to sustained physical and mental stress. Regretfully, those topics have been ovelooked in the construction industry. The objective of this study is to understand better these phenomena, such as sleep duration and fatigue, and whether they are interrelated, and to propose strategies to mitigate them and contribute to the reduction of accidents in construction projects. We worked with 154 male construction workers from one Chilean construction company. To assess sleep quality, we used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). To evaluate fatigue, we used a personal computer version of the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PC-PVT) that measures alertness and vigilance. This 5-minute test was performed on construction workers on-site in the morning. Those people who took part in the test were classified into various groups according to self-reported sleep hours, namely: 7–9 h (26%), 5–7 h (61.7%), and <5 h (12.3%). These results were compared for three variables (Mean Reaction Time (RT), 10% faster, and 10% slower) using an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test. Differences were found for Mean RT and Slowest 10%, the difference being greater in the group that reported sleeping <5 h, but without statistical significance. Studies with a greater number of subjects and measurements are required throughout the working day.

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