The acceptance of personal protective equipment among Hong Kong construction workers: An integration of technology acceptance model and theory of planned behavior with risk perception and safety climate

Occupational accidents and the use of PPE: a global meta-analysis

Occupational accidents, despite continuous safety updates, are still a scourge in the occupational and forensic spheres, constituting, among other things, the subject of a large share of litigation. Demographic data can help to understand the areas where the application of health surveillance is lacking. This meta-analysis sets out to analyse data from studies on accidents at work, focusing on the correlation between the areas in which accidents occur and whether or not personal safety equipment is used, in relation to the different regulations in force. For the selection of the data, a systematic review was carried out according to the PRISMA guidelines, with the primary objective of identifying the trend of occupational accidents in specific geographical areas, which differ in terms of the attention paid to preventive aspects. The data we highlighted showed, regarding the type of accident, substantial differences between low-income countries and industrialised countries (stratified according to the Human Development Index) and, an overall indifference as to whether or not individual safety devices were used, revealing that, despite the continuous normative evolution in the field of safety at work, even today, the investigative data on the actual application of the regulations, during accidents at work, is underestimated and little researched.

Are virtual reality applications effective for construction safety training and education? A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Virtual reality (VR) gains attention in construction safety training because it allows users to simulate real activities without the risks of real activities. However, a literary work comprehensively describing the effectiveness of VR in construction safety training and education (CSTE) is lacking.

METHOD

This study provides a systematic review of the research related to VR applications for CSTE over the past decade using meta-analysis techniques. Standardized mean differences between traditional training methods and VR training were grouped by measurement. Potential moderators possibly affecting the effectiveness of VR in CSTE were analyzed.

RESULTS

Results showed that VR is significantly more effective in construction training and education than traditional methods. The effectiveness of VR was 0.593, 0.432, and 0.777 higher than that of traditional methods for behaviors, skills, and experience measurements, respectively. The training context and mean work experience of trainees were two important moderators that significantly affected the effectiveness of VR in CSTE (p < 0.001).

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The presented results suggested the need for targeted development and management of VR technology in the construction industry and the early promotion of VR for general safety training among young, inexperienced construction workers.

Predictors of older people's intention to engage in cycling violation behaviour with an integrative model

In China, bicycles are a popular mode of transportation for senior citizens. A disproportionate number of traffic-related fatalities and injuries involve cyclists. The violation of cycling laws is a significant cause of cyclist crashes. Few studies have analyzed the cycling violation behaviour of seniors. Therefore, it is essential to examine the factors that influence older individuals' intention to engage in cycling violation behaviours. In this study, the effects of social-demographic characteristics, the exogenous constructs in the health belief model (HBM), and the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) on senior cyclists' violation intention were investigated using hierarchical regression analysis. Interviews were conducted with older cyclists in urban areas of Wuhan City, all above 60 years of age. The results showed that very little variance in behavioural intention could be explained by social-demographic factors. The TPB has a significantly greater capacity than the HBM to explain variance in behavioural intention. Perceived susceptibility, perceived benefit, cues to action, subjective norm and attitude significantly impacted behavioural intention, whereas perceived severity, perceived barrier and self-efficacy did not.

Optimization of construction safety resource allocation based on evolutionary game and genetic algorithm

In the construction industry, ensuring the safety performance of a project relies heavily on the effective allocation of safety resources. As the importance of mental health in the construction industry increases, evolutionary game theory can be used to analyze the interaction mechanism of various factors affecting safety performance during the construction phase. The objective of this paper is to construct an analytical model that combines evolutionary game theory with genetic algorithms from the perspective of Leader-Member Exchange Ambivalence. The model aims to quantify and compare the various factors that influence achieving the expected safety state and identify the specific necessary constraints. Initially, we analyzed the relationships among construction site employees, divided them into superiors and subordinates, and established a game model and payoff matrix based on the research background. Next, we introduced genetic algorithms into the model via the replicator dynamic equation for optimization. We adjusted the coefficients of safety risk level, psychological expected return, moral identity, and other factors to simulate various construction site scenarios. Simulation and optimization results indicate that genetic algorithms provide more accurate reference values for safety resource allocation compared to preset or manually assigned values.

Role of Trust, Risk Perception, and Perceived Benefit in COVID-19 Vaccination Intention of the Public

COVID-19 vaccination is an effective method for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. This study proposed and validated a theoretical intention model for explaining the COVID-19 vaccination intention (CVI) of the public. The theoretical intention model incorporated trust in vaccines, two types of risk perception (risk perception of COVID-19 and risk perception of COVID-19 vaccination), and perceived benefit into a theory of planned behavior (TPB). Structural equation modeling was utilized to test the theoretical intention model with data collected from 816 Chinese adults in China. The results confirmed the crucial role of trust in vaccines, risk perception, and perceived benefit in shaping the CVI of the public. In addition, TPB was found to be applicable in a research context. The theoretical intention model accounted for 78.8% of the variance in CVI. Based on the findings, several practical recommendations for improving COVID-19 vaccination rates were discussed.

Prediction of compliance with preventive measures among teachers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

The objective of this study is to examine, in primary and high schools, teachers' compliance with preventive infection control measures (in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic). Inspired by the technology acceptance model (TAM) and occupational health and safety (OHS) literature on personal protective equipment (PPE) use, we propose a model of compliance with preventive measures among teachers. Data were collected following an observational, cross-sectional design. The data for the study were collected via a questionnaire survey of teachers working in the province of Quebec, Canada. To study the impact of the explanatory variables on the dependent variable, we developed a multiple linear regression model. This model was estimated to assess the preventive measures as a whole (six items). Results show that having tested positive for a COVID test in the last year, judging that the situation does not require the use of the mask or the protective glasses, training received on preventive measures, factors related to comfort and use of protective eyewear, as well as age influence teacher compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures.

Understanding key determinants of health climate in building construction projects

Health climate is critical for achieving a better health performance in building construction projects. However, the topic is rarely investigated by extant literature. The aim of this study is to identify key determinants of health climate in building construction projects. To achieve this goal, a hypothesis was established between practitioners' perceptions of health climate and their health status, based on a comprehensive literature review and structured interviews conducted with experienced experts. Then, a questionnaire was developed and administered for data collection. Partial least-squares structural equation modeling was used for data processing and hypothesis test. Results showed that health climate in building construction projects is positively correlated with the health status of the practitioners, and that employment involvement was the most important determinant of health climate in building construction projects, followed by management commitment, and supportive environment. Moreover, significant factors under each determinant of health climate were also disclosed. As limited research has been conducted to examine health climate in building construction projects, this study bridges the knowledge gap and is a contributory work to the current body of knowledge of construction health. Additionally, the findings of this study can provide authorities and practitioners with a deeper understanding of construction health and thereby helping them bring forward more feasible measures to improve health in building construction projects. Thus, this study is useful to the practice as well.

Assessing psychological factors on farmers' intention to apply organic manure: an application of extended theory of planned behavior

Different from the previous studies on social and economic impacts, this study focused on the assessment of psychological factors on farmers' application of organic manure. We explored the psychological evaluation based on the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB), which consists of attitude (AT), perceived behavior control (PBC), subjective norm, moral norm (MN), environmental risk perception (ERP), and perceived policy effectiveness (PPE). Further, we explored the moderating effects of PPE. We studied 235 tea growers in China to verify the model and analyzed the psychological factors in their decisions regarding organic manure application. The results showed that by incorporating psychological factors, such as MN, ERP, and PPE, the extended TPB's ability to explain farmers' intention to apply organic manure increased by 6%. The results also confirmed that psychological factors (ERP, PPE, AT, PBC, and MN) positively influenced farmers' inclination to use organic manure. Finally, PPE was found to have a negative mediating effect on attitude and intention. Given the influence of these psychological factors (PBC, ERP, and PPE), we discovered that increasing the policy publicity, raising the policy subsidy, and promoting the popularization of sustainable agriculture and environmental awareness, are essential to encourage farmers' utilization of organic manure.

Better safe than sorry: the role of anticipated regret and organizational ethical climate in predicting workplace safety behavior

Purpose

Based on the theory of reasoned action, this study aims to illustrate how employees’ safety behavior can be enhanced in the workplace by specifically examining how anticipated regret leads to workplace safety behavior and the contextual factor of organizational ethical climate.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopted a quantitative approach and designed their survey from validated scales in prior studies. Data were obtained from two different sources, including 149 employees and 31 immediate supervisors. Hierarchical linear modeling techniques were applied to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results showed that anticipated regret was significantly related to safety compliance and safety participation; egoistic ethical climate was negatively correlated with safety compliance and safety participation, while benevolent ethical climate was only positively correlated with safety participation. For cross-level moderating effects, both benevolent and principle ethical climate moderate the relationship between anticipated regret and safety participation, whereas all three ethical climates did not moderate the relationship between anticipated regret and safety compliance.

Research limitations/implications

It contributes to current literature by identifying critical determinants of employees’ safety behavior, which would enable practitioners to manage safety in the workplace and foster a safe working environment. Specifically, fostering benevolent ethical climate can better promote employees’ perceptions of the importance of discretionary safety behavior.

Originality/value

This study suggests that organizational practitioners could use the salience of anticipated regret to promote the safety behavioral intentions of employees in the workplace. Further, the authors examined a multilevel framework, which elaborates individual- and organizational-level antecedents of employee safety behavior as well as the impact of cross-level interactions on employee safety behavior.

An integrative fuzzy Delphi Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) study on the risk perception influencing factors

PURPOSE

Risk perception is one of the factors that can guide human behavior in the workplace. The resent study aimed to identify the most important factors affecting risk perception.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study had three phases. In the first, factors affecting risk perception were extracted based on librarian resources and studies. Then, using the fuzzy-Delphi method and based on the expert's opinion, the most important factors affecting risk perception were identified. Finally, using the fuzzy-DEMATEL technique and relying on the opinions of experts, the relationships between these factors were analyzed and their role as cause or effect was determined.

RESULTS

Eleven variables were identified as the most important factors influencing risk perception, among which safety knowledge, quality, and quantity of safety training, and safety climate had the greatest effect on risk perception with defuzzified scores of 0.826, 0.817, and 0.808, respectively. Seven of the variables had the role of cause and four of them had the role of effect. Experience of Accident along with safety climate had the highest interaction with other variables.

CONCLUSION

Precise investigation of risk perception influencing factors can play an important role in improving risk perception and safe behaviors.

How Optimism Bias and Safety Climate Influence the Risk-Taking Behavior of Construction Workers

Risk taking among construction workers is a critical topic in construction safety research. The aim of this study was to empirically investigate how optimism bias and safety climate influence construction worker risk-taking behavior. A survey with a designed questionnaire was conducted to collect data from construction workers. A total of 183 construction workers participated in this study and completed the designed questionnaire. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis by using structural equation modeling. Results show that optimism bias related to work risks positively influences construction worker risk-taking behavior, whereas safety climate and optimism bias related to hazard perception skills negatively affect the risk-taking behavior. These findings can enrich the literature on construction worker risk-taking behavior from the perspective of optimism bias and safety climate. Practical implications are provided for discouraging construction workers from taking risks at work.