Diaz, Joaquin Manuel (2026) Lived experiences of Texas construction workers reporting near misses on their jobsite. DPh thesis, Walden University, USA.
Abstract
Near miss incidents in the construction industry, when reported, serve as critical indicators of safety performance. When reported, organizations can identify hazards early and reduce the incidence of injuries and illnesses. Limited research exists on how construction workers perceive near miss incidents and how they are influenced to report them. Semi-structured audio-recorded interviews with 15 Texas-based construction workers in three cities about their lived experiences with near-miss reporting were conducted between July 18 and August 22, 2025. Data were organized using NVivo software and analyzed according to the phenomenological procedures outlined by Burns et al. and the qualitative analysis guidance provided by Patton. The theory of planned behavior provided a conceptual framework for understanding workers' reporting behaviors. The participants were unable to provide a specific definition of what constitutes a near miss and did not believe that all near misses should be reported, thereby missing an opportunity to investigate and implement corrective actions to prevent injuries and illnesses. Many believed that the severity of the event determined reporting action, but also potentially succumbed to peer and supervisory pressure not to report. Additionally, many felt that employers fell short in defining a near miss and in near miss reporting. Lastly, building a culture of near miss reporting requires intentional efforts, including communication improvements, by employers and their assigned supervisors. The potential positive social change impact of this study is an increase in near miss reporting rates among construction workers, resulting in decreased associated morbidity and mortality because of errors and accidents.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Jimenez, Richard |
| Index terms: | mortality, planned behaviour, construction worker, supervisor, construction industry, illness, qualitative analysis, safety performance, conceptual framework, injury, interview |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, research design and methodology, health monitoring assessment and metrics, industry analysis, occupational health and safety management, health conditions and diseases, practitioner, theoretical framing, behavioral psychology |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Roles and Professions, Research Practice |
| 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