Wu, X; Li, X; Chen, J; Gao, J and Luo, X (2026) Driving mechanism of attentional bias toward safety of construction workers: Case study in China. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 33(1), pp. 125-143. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose – Attentional bias toward safety (ABS) is a positive safety cognitive ability that could encourage individuals to engage in proactive safety behaviors; however, there is a lack of systematic sorting out of the driving mechanism of ABS. This study aims to identify the influencing factors and underlying mechanisms of ABS among construction workers (CWs) in China, thereby enhancing the practice of construction safety management. Design/methodology/approach – An exploratory study using the open-ended approach of grounded theory was conducted, including 25-depth interviews with CWs. Based on the interviews' records, a scale for measuring CWs' ABS was developed and an empirical study on 554 workers was performed. The ABS scale was validated in conjunction with an ABS modification training experiment published by the authors' team, and the theoretical model of the driving mechanism of CWs' ABS was obtained. Findings – The results showed that the six driving factors of construction workers' ABS include organizational factors, risk perception, safety awareness, safety investment, job stress and workers' educational level. This paper also identified the critical approach to improving workers' ABS as an effective intervention on risk perception. In addition, the ABS scale was found to be effective in measuring the ABS level. Originality/value – This paper is of importance in reducing the unsafe behaviors of construction workers and preventing and promoting the sustainable development of construction enterprises.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | attentional bias toward safety; construction workers; driving mechanism; grounded theory |
| Index terms: | empirical study, job stress, construction worker, case study, organizational factor, influencing factor, safety behaviour, grounded theory, methodology, cognitive ability, bias, China, construction safety, unsafe behaviour, interview, experiment, exploratory study, risk perception, sustainable development |
| Subjects: | cognitive psychology, environmental hazards, research methods, theoretical framing, financial risk, health safety and environment, Geography, practitioner, occupational health and safety management, environmental health, management, probability and distributions, business, data collection methods, risk assessment |
| Topics: | Risk Management, Sustainability, Health and Safety, Geographical Context, Roles and Professions, Cost Management, Research Practice, Organizational Design, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here