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Business-to-business suppliers invest in safety training programs believing that such programs mitigate safety hazards, prevent workplace injuries, and create value for their customers. However, causal evidence of these effects is sparse. Study 1 uses site-level monthly data from a global oil field services company. Exploiting sharp discontinuities in safety training hours due to catastrophic accidents, the authors find that a 10% increase in safety training hours per capita decreases safety hazards per capita by 6.45%–9.57%. Study 2 measures the causal impact of business establishments' safety training intensity on their workplace injuries: it leverages Local Law 196 requiring workers at construction establishments in New York City to complete at least ten hours of safety training. This legislation reduced injury rates at construction establishments in New York City by.54–.68 percentage points (a 15.56%–18.84% decrease) relative to their counterparts. Study 3, a stated-choice conjoint experiment of business-to-business procurement professionals, documents that the focal supplier's investment in safety training increases the probability of its proposal being selected by those professionals. Collectively, these findings validate the need for suppliers to invest in safety training as a risk-mitigation vehicle that has positive implications for business-to-business buying decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author(s): Nandita Narayanasamy (corresponding author) [1]; Lalita Josyula [2] INTRODUCTION Air pollution is the degradation of air quality by anthropogenic or natural causes due to the introduction of harmful quantities [...], Introduction: Construction sites generate high levels of air pollution, contributing to more than 4% of particulate matter in the atmosphere. Literature indicates that on-site pollution is an important factor that contributes to lung impairments in construction workers. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ADRS) are known to be exacerbated because of exposure to a variety of construction pollutants mainly particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5). Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether exposure to construction site pollutants is associated with impairment of pulmonary parameters like Forced vital capacity (FVC), Forced expiration volume in 1 sec (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC. A total of 221 publications of observational studies were reviewed and 18 were selected; the data of which were meta-analyzed. Results and Discussion: In all studies the test subjects (construction workers) exposed to occupational air pollutants showed significantly lower FVC and FEV1 as compared expected levels (p≤ 0.01). The calculated Odds ratio indicates that there is positive association between COPD as compared to ARDS and exposure to pollutants. Keywords: Pulmonary health, construction workers, Pollution

The increasing involvement of diverse construction machines has significantly transformed construction operations. Within the nonlinear interaction of multiple worker and machine functions, workers' performance exhibits complex variability due to cognitive uncertainty and contextual correlation. These factors have a profound impact on the construction operation process, leading to the emergence of new and intricate risk patterns. Adopting a human–machine system perspective, investigating the influence of workers' performance variability (WPV) on construction operation processes holds great potential for enhancing system safety. This study introduces an integrated method merging a Bayesian network (BN)-based cognitive model with the functional resonance analysis method (FRAM). The BN model estimates the probability distribution of WPV manifestations. Subsequently, Bayesian inference and FRAM-based quantitative analysis are consolidated within a Monte Carlo simulation framework to evaluate the WPV's influence on system safety. The efficacy of this approach was evaluated by conducting a shield tunneling construction case study, which revealed that the proposed method could identify critical types of WPV, assess their impacts, and explain their causes. The contribution of this study lies in providing an appropriate modeling and analysis method for the intricately functionally coupled worker–machine collaborative construction operation process and its associated risks. The proposed approach has the potential to support the development of practical tools that offer quantitative evidence for managing WPV and mitigating its adverse effects on system safety. Practical Applications: The modern construction industry is experiencing an increasing prevalence of human–machine collaborative construction scenarios, in which construction workers and machines form tightly coupled systems. Understanding the safety risks in such complex human–machine systems has become increasingly crucial. Furthermore, as construction machinery becomes more reliable and exhibits relatively certain performance, it is essential to comprehend the dominant role played by human workers and how the uncertainty of their behavior impacts the construction human–machine system safety. Based on the Safety-II theory, this study offers a distinct perspective for understanding the risks of construction human–machine systems. It not only considers those situations in which failures may occur, but also explores those situations in which construction tasks are completed successfully, which is important for understanding the complex task risks inherent in human–machine systems. The results demonstrate the effects of macro task processes and the micro worker's performance variability. The findings reveal the complex dynamics of such systems and provide insights into both potential failure scenarios and successful task completion, ultimately enhancing risk assessment practices. The proposed methodology also holds promise as a tool for integrating expert experience and construction process data, enabling proactive analysis of risks in construction human–machine systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of workers' social identity in shaping their safety behaviors has become increasingly acknowledged. Among various social identities (e.g., workgroup, trade, etc.), improving project identity stands out as particularly impactful; it not only promotes safer behaviors among workers but also establishes a shared identity that unites all project members, thereby enhancing their sense of belonging. However, existing management strategies, primarily designed for traditional, long-term organizations, often require substantial managerial efforts to build and maintain high-quality management-employee interactions or organizational reputation. Such strategies may be less effective and economically impractical in the temporary nature of construction projects, suggesting a notable gap in management strategies that effectively foster workers' project identity to enhance safety behaviors. To fill this knowledge gap, the authors aim to develop and evaluate affordable and easy-to-implement managerial interventions that foster workers' project identification and safety behaviors. Drawing on social identity theory, the authors designed project identity-promoting messages and symbols that could be easily embedded into everyday items, such as posters and T-shirts. To evaluate their effectiveness, longitudinal field experiments were conducted, gathering 124 self-reported surveys on project identification and safety behavior from 31 workers before and after the interventions at two separate construction sites over three months. The survey data were analyzed using repeated measures (RM) ANOVA analysis to examine changes before and after the intervention. The results indicate significant improvements in both affective and behavioral dimensions of project identification, as well as in safety participation, demonstrating the potential of social identity–based interventions in improving workers' safety behaviors and project identification. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on construction organizations and construction safety by developing and evaluating practical managerial interventions based on social identity theory, which enhance construction workers' project identification and safety behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of high turnover rates in the construction industry, team leisure sports activities have been increasingly promoted, with growing attention on their potential impact on the sustainability of construction workers' occupational commitment. However, there is a lack of systematic research on the mechanism through which team sports promote occupational commitment. This study explores how team leisure sports activities enhance the sustainability of construction workers' occupational commitment through the mediating effect of team cohesion, integrating perspectives from social psychology and organizational behavior. Data were collected from 509 Chinese construction workers using a structured questionnaire. The results revealed the following: (1) Four dimensions of team sports experience—social interaction quality, emotional engagement, team culture perception, and work pressure relief—positively affected workers' commitment to sustainability. (2) Team cohesion mediated the relationship between the team sports experience and sustainability. This study provides insights into career sustainability in the construction industry and highlights the importance of team cohesion in enhancing workers' professional commitment. The findings offer practical implications for optimizing team-building and human resource management strategies, with a focus on retaining employees in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethiopia has experienced rapid urbanization over the past three decades, leading to the explosion of building construction. The job created in the construction industry of the country was hazardous due to the nature of the activities involved in the industry. However there is paucity of evidence regarding the prevalence and risk factors of injuries in the industry to make evidence-based policy framework within the country. Therefore, this study seeks to examine the magnitude of non-fatal occupational injuries and the associated factors among building construction sites workers in Aleta Wodo, Sidama, Ethiopia. An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted in South Ethiopia from September to October 2023. The study utilized a multi-stage sampling technique to select the 613 study participants. The data was collected using a structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Epi Inf version 7.2 was used to enter data and the data was analysed using IBM-SPSS version 22. Bivariate and Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to assess association between the outcome and predictor variables. During the multivariable regression p-value less than 0.05 were taken to determine significant association. The annual prevalence of wok-place injury in the current study was 64.1% (95 CI: 60.7, 67.9). Male construction workers [AOR = 3.6, 95% CI (2.12, 6.15)], monthly income of ≤ 1000 [AOR = 4.56, 95% CI (1.56, 13.36)], 1001–3000 [AOR = 9.7, 95% CI (3.45, 27.3)], and 3001–5000 [AOR = 6.56, 95% CI (1.96, 21.9)], working more than eight hours [AOR = 7.9, 95% CI (4.36, 14.64)], drinking alcohol [AOR = 3.28, 95% CI (1.63, 6.6)] and participants unsatisfied with their job [AOR = 3.12, 95% CI (1.36, 7.16)] were significantly associated with non-fatal occupational injury. The magnitude of non-fatal occupational injury among construction workers was high in the study area. The study concluded that sex, monthly income, length of working hours, drinking alcohol and dissatisfaction with job were risk factors for occupational injuries among construction employee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accidents are frequent in the construction industry, where managerial negligence and inadequate safety supervision are significant factors that contribute to these safety incidents. However, existing research tended to concentrate on the outcomes resulting from inadequate safety supervision but neglected the decision-making process behind insufficient supervision, which fails to fundamentally address the issue of accidents caused by insufficient supervision. To address these gaps, this study examines the key cost–benefit factors influencing safety supervision decisions among employers, contractors, supervisors, and construction workers in the Chinese construction industry. Using semistructured interviews with 49 participants and questionnaire surveys with 203 respondents, the effects of various factors on safety supervision were identified. An evolutionary game model was then employed for simulation based on the identified key factors to provide recommendations. The findings reveal 58 pivotal cost–benefit factors that influence safety-related decisions, encompassing four explicit benefits, eight implicit benefits, 35 explicit costs, and 11 implicit costs. The results indicate that implicit costs and benefits are significant factors driving safety supervision. Explicit costs are primarily driven by company or project standards, whereas implicit costs are influenced by company or employee attitudes and perceptions. Additionally, recommendations were proposed: increasing awareness of the implicit benefits of safety supervision, reducing noncritical expenditures, improving hazard awareness, and strengthening government and employer supervision. This research contributes to enriching the cost–benefit framework in construction safety supervision, shedding light on the root causes of insufficient safety supervision through a cost–benefit analysis, and implementing measures to promote safety supervision and onsite safety performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk perception is crucial for minimizing injuries within the construction industry. However, existing research mostly focuses on the impact of demographic and external factors on construction workers' risk perception, with little attention to deeper cognitive factors such as cognitive capability and cognitive task demand. Moreover, even less research explores the balanced relationship between these factors, leaving the mechanism of risk perception failure unclear. To bridge this gap, this study explores the mechanism of risk perception failure from the balance perspective of risk perception capability and risk perception task demand. This study employed behavioral experiments, recruiting construction workers as participants, and required them to scan construction site photos and to self-report the probability and severity of risks. Polynomial regression with response surface analysis explored the impact of the different combinations of risk perception capability and task demand on risk perception failure. The moderating effect of risk propensity was also examined. The results find that risk perception capacity decreases risk probability and severity perception failure, while risk perception task demand increases them. Additionally, the risk probability and severity perception failure continue to increase as risk perception capacity and task demand move from "high-quality" imbalance to balance, and then to "low-quality" imbalance. Unexpectedly, a U-shaped trend is observed as both factors move from low-level to high-level balance. Risk propensity moderates the balance's effect on risk probability perception failure but not on risk severity perception failure. Academically, this study significantly advances the theoretical understanding of the mechanism of risk perception failure and even cognitive failure of construction workers. It also offers practical implications for construction safety managers to mitigate workers' risk perception failure, thereby controlling unsafe behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction productivity has declined in most countries because construction projects are complex systems, and their performance levels are constantly changing under the influence of multiple interacting factors. During the last decades, most countries have sought to improve the construction sector because it is of great importance in developing the economy and creating job opportunities. To improve the construction industry, it is necessary to increase the productivity of construction workers and ensure that a decline does not affect the work plan and schedule or cause any delay or financial losses by identifying and studying the factors that affect construction productivity. To identify the most important factors affecting the productivity of construction workers, the research identified 60 factors that were collected by reviewing previous studies. The factors were divided into seven groups, namely worker numbers, supervision, contractors, materials and equipment, working conditions, project, and external factors. Because every country has different conditions due to population growth, economic crises, and housing shortages, this research aims to identify and evaluate the most important factors affecting labor productivity in mass housing projects in Iran. To achieve this objective, a field survey was conducted using a questionnaire where 250 questionnaires of important factors affecting the productivity of mass projects were distributed among people who are from institutions with rich experience, with 123 returned valid and analyzable questionnaires. The questionnaire data were analyzed using commercially available software, and the factors were ranked using the relative importance index (RII). The results showed that the five most important factors affecting productivity are in the following order: 1 = incomplete design, 2 = lack of equipment and tools, 3 = delay in payment of workers' salaries, 4 = worker's experience and skills, and 5 = lack of materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Construction workers' safety compliance is attracting considerable critical attention as it plays a decisive role in improving safety on construction sites. This study applied the concept of differentiating safety compliance into deep compliance (DC) and surface compliance (SC) and relied on trait activation theory to investigate the effects of situational awareness (SA) and emotional intelligence (EI) on safety compliance. Design/methodology/approach: Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 239 construction workers in Australia, and these responses were statistically analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to validate the proposed model. Findings: Results revealed that both EI and SA positively impacted DC and negatively impacted SC. Moreover, SA partially mediated the link between EI and two types of safety compliance (DC and SC). The outcomes showed that construction workers' ability in regulating their emotions could influence their perception of environmental cues and the effectiveness of safety compliance behavior. Originality/value: This study sheds light on investigating the antecedents of DC and SC from the perspective of trait activation theory. The findings also have practical implications, stating that construction site managers or safety professionals should consider providing training on construction workers' EI and SA to enhance their willingness to expend conscious efforts in complying with safety rules and procedures, which can lead to improved safety outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate stakeholders' perception of the most prevalent unethical practices in the Ghanaian construction industry. Design/methodology/approach: Data used for this study came from a cross-sectional survey (questionnaire), which was administered to 273 stakeholders in the construction industry using convenience sampling technique. The data were analyzed using statistical software package SPSSv17 to determine the most prevalent unethical practices. The ranking factor was calculated based on relative importance index (RII) value. Findings: The results of this study reveal that corruption was perceived by major stakeholders as the most prevalent unethical behavior (RII = 0.82) followed by bribery (RII = 0.79). Political interference and kickback came third (RII = 0.77) and fourth (RII = 0.74), respectively. However, the least prevalent unethical behaviors were extortion (RII = 0.56), workplace violence (RII = 0.57), alcohol abuse (RII = 0.59) and harassment (RII = 0.59). The findings suggest that when the various groupings were taken into consideration separately, the differences in their perceptions were obvious. Research limitations/implications: Data for this study were collected from construction stakeholders in Ghana who were conveniently sampled. As a result, in reference to the sampling framework which focused on major stakeholders in only two regions of Ghana does not sufficiently ensure full generalization of the results. Practical implications: The findings of the study provide significant information for construction organizations and practitioners regarding unethical practices, which are most prevalent in the Ghanaian construction industry. Construction organizations and practitioners seeking to mitigate the negative effect of unethical practices on their performance should focus on educating construction workers on how to avoid corrupt practices and report same to the authorities. Also, ethics training programs must be instituted for staff coupled with constant and random inspection and checking of ethical compliance, verbal promotion and praise for ethical conduct and in some cases increase in employees pay. Originality/value: This paper is one of the first to have accessed the views of broader stakeholders, i.e. consultants, contractors, professionals, suppliers, regulators, clients and construction workers in the construction industry regarding the most prevalent unethical practices in the Ghanaian construction industry in one study. This study, therefore, enriches the current literature by providing additional dimension to the understanding of unethical practices in the Ghanaian construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Given the cruciality of construction workers' safe behaviors, the possible influential factors on workers' behaviors should be studied, and one of these factors is characteristics. The authors identified emotional intelligence (EI), motivation and job burnout as characteristics that might affect a worker's safety behavior, and the aim of this study is to investigate these possible relationships. Design/methodology/approach: Workers' EI, motivation and job burnout status were assessed by a structured interview. Furthermore, workers' safety behaviors were assessed by a checklist derived from national codes, regulations and other research studies. Then, the researcher's observations took place, and the data were acquired. Findings: EI and motivation of workers were able to predict safety behaviors, and the effect of job burnout on safety behaviors was not significant. In addition, motivation's influence on job burnout was not significant. Therefore, in order to promote safety behaviors, the EI and motivation of workers need to be taken into consideration. Practical implications: The results indicate why construction managers should consider the workers' EI and motivation competencies and how this consideration could lead to safer and better performance in construction projects. Originality/value: The possible effects of EI, motivation and job burnout on the safety behaviors of construction workers haven't been paid enough attention. Moreover, the authors couldn't find a study similar to the present one that was conducted in Iran. Also, an original model was presented, and safety behaviors were studied through fieldwork rather than using questionnaires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on two qualitative case studies undertaken in Switzerland, this article compares the positioning of Climate Strike activists and construction workers on questions of climate change, so as to analyse the impact of work practices on environmental orientations. Building on a praxeological approach, the article argues that communities of practice in workplaces and educational institutions influence environmental orientations. Everyday practice in schools and universities fosters the scientific environmental knowledge that is central to the orientations of climate activists. By contrast, the practice of construction workers inculcates an embodied environmental knowledge which accompanies an orientation that takes environmental problems as not primarily a question of conservation, but rather as inherently linked to workplace matters. By way of conclusion, the article argues for an expanded notion of environmental concerns, beyond the acceptance of scientific facts on ecological crisis and towards embracing the embodied environmental knowledge more broadly prevalent among manual workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology has led to the advent of digitally enabled workforces like the gig workforce, but a number of issues confront this workforce. This study aims to identify the various issues facing the gig workforce as well as the regulatory measures and regulatory interactions proposed to guide stakeholders in addressing these challenges. This study is a review, with the methodology primarily based on secondary sources of data collection like journals and articles. This study reveals that the construction industry is not immune to the use of the gig workforce, as it often performs project-based construction work, jobs requiring highly specialized skills and commodity service jobs. This study also reveals that the gig workforce is confronted with primarily gig economy-induced platform-based challenges, such as the new nature of work, i.e., exploitative, precarious, and dangerous labour. Furthermore, this study also reveals that these issues can be addressed primarily through regulatory means and regulatory interactions between proposed regulatory measures and existing labour laws, which could be by Coordination, Competition, etc. This aligns with SDG 8, i.e., Decent Work and Economic Growth, as concerns issues related to their benefits, and SDG 10, i.e., Reduced Inequalities, as concerns issues related to their employment relations. The implication of this study for construction stakeholders relates to the development of new regulations and providing a valuable tool for analysing regulatory landscapes and understanding the dynamics of regulatory change, which contributes to scholarly discussions on fair labour practices and the protection of gig workers and helps inform policymaking that will help attract, motivate, retain, and engage more gig workers in the construction industry, which will foster proper workforce management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses a person-centered approach to investigate construction workers' learning at work, focusing on their approaches to learning, self-efficacy beliefs and work engagement and how these vary according to their goal orientation profiles. Survey data were collected from Finnish construction sector employees (N = 1,280) in June 2021. The data were analysed using latent profile analysis (LPA). Analyses revealed four goal orientation profiles: Disengaged (19.1%), Avoidance-oriented (2.1%), Performance-oriented (43.0%) and Mastery-oriented (35.7%). Profiles based on high learning orientation (Performance-oriented, Mastery-oriented) had higher emphasis on a deep approach to learning, as well as higher self-efficacy and work engagement. The profiles differed less regarding unreflective approach to learning. The results illuminate construction workers' learning processes in terms of learning strategies and motivation and how they compare to those of the more extensively studied student population. The results also encourage finding ways to support workers' mastery orientation to benefit not only learning but also well-being by enhancing more reflective learning approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the social movements in Japan that aimed to ban asbestos and help those afflicted with asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) and their families. Trade unions representing dock and construction workers, whose members were occupationally exposed to asbestos, played significant roles in the early stages of the anti-asbestos movement, from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s. These unions were crucial members of the first national anti-asbestos organization, the Ban Asbestos Network Japan (BANJAN), founded in 1987. Initially, BANJAN focused on policy and legislative efforts to ban asbestos. Later, in collaboration with regional occupational safety and health (OSH) centers, BANJAN strove to identify ARD victims across different areas using telephone hotlines and consultation services. They also facilitated meetings for the ARD victims and their families, which led to the formation of the ARD victims’ organization. Thus, grassroots activities organized by ARD victims and their families emerged later, with the first national ARD victims’ organization being established in 2004. This article shows that the grassroots social movement led by ARD victims and their families in Japan depended largely on the resources mobilized by trade unions and related organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major objective of this research is to investigate wage variations and disparities within the construction job market by employing a comprehensive approach that intertwines the influence of Spanish-required language skills and the nuanced impact of locational variables. Given the large number of Hispanic workers in the construction workforce, understanding the dynamics of wages for job openings requiring Spanish is necessary. Initial findings revealed a lower mean wage for Spanish-required jobs compared to non-Spanish-required jobs across the United States. However, wage determination is multifaceted, influenced by many factors such as job types, experiences, and locations. To unravel this complexity, this study collected construction job information through web scraping, imported additional data from various sources, and utilized random forest and spatial visualization techniques to explain the dynamics shaping wage structures within Spanish-required and non-Spanish-required job openings. The results provide distinct contributions of language and location relative to wage dynamics, and there is no distinct disparity or benefit associated with Spanish language requirements. This study not only enhances our comprehension of wage patterns in the construction job market but also captures the multifaceted relationships inherent in labor markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the construction industry, where work environments are complex, unstructured and often dangerous, the implementation of human–robot collaboration (HRC) is emerging as a promising advancement. This underlines the critical need for intuitive communication interfaces that enable construction workers to collaborate seamlessly with robotic assistants. This study introduces a conversational virtual reality (VR) interface integrating multimodal interaction to enhance intuitive communication between construction workers and robots. By integrating voice and controller inputs with the robot operating system (ROS), building information modeling (BIM), and a game engine featuring a chat interface powered by a large language model (LLM), the proposed system enables intuitive and precise interaction within a VR setting. Evaluated by 12 construction workers through a drywall installation case study, the proposed system demonstrated its low workload and high intuitiveness and ease of use with succinct command inputs. The proposed multimodal interaction system suggests that such technological integration can substantially advance the integration of robotic assistants in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Working in risky environments, construction workers' actions to contribute to cultivating a safety-oriented environment (i.e., safety participation) have consistently emerged as a leading factor in construction safety incidents. Safety participation is crucial for improving workplace safety among construction workers. Although the perception of workplace risk has been found to influence safety participation behavior, the results have been inconsistent. Some studies suggest that risk perception decreases safety participation behavior, whereas others suggest it increases it. In this study, we consider anxiety and reflection about death as important psychological mechanisms to explain why risk perception may either increase or decrease safety participation behaviors. Based on emotion as social information theory, we propose from an emotional perspective that risk perception increases construction workers' death anxiety and thus decreases their safety participation behavior. Subsequently, we propose from a cognitive perspective that risk perception increases construction workers' death reflection, thereby increasing their safety participation behavior. Further, these relationships are affected by construction workers' mindfulness (an individual's awareness and attention to the experience of the present moment without judgment). Using data from 532 construction workers, we tested the proposed conceptual model. Construction workers with high levels of mindfulness showed a decrease in the negative effect of death anxiety on safety participation behavior, whereas the positive effect of death reflection on safety participation behavior increased. These findings extend the relevant literature on risk perception and safety participation behavior by adding two critical psychological explanatory mechanisms, death anxiety and reflection, and mindfulness, an essential contingent factor. In addition, this study enriches current theoretical perspectives by applying emotion as social information theory to explore the relationship between risk perception and safety participation behavior. Practical Applications: This research uncovers the complex role of risk perception in the safety participation of construction workers, indicating that risk perception may not only reduce safety behaviors by increasing death anxiety but also enhance safety behaviors by promoting death reflection. Furthermore, the mindfulness trait of construction workers, that is, the ability to focus on the current work state, is crucial for alleviating the negative impact of death anxiety and strengthening the positive influence of death reflection. These findings offer a new perspective for construction safety management, suggesting that introducing or enhancing mindfulness training can effectively improve the safety behaviors of construction workers. Construction organizations can implement specific measures to enhance safety, such as regularly organizing mindfulness exercises on-site, integrating mindfulness elements into risk assessments and safety training, and providing psychological health support for workers. These initiatives can raise safety awareness and promote proactive participation in safety management. By adopting these practical measures, the construction industry can not only reduce the occurrence of accidents but also elevate the safety standards across the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancement of deep learning has led to a growing demand and increase in research on computer vision–based construction site monitoring for improved safety and operational efficiency. These methods largely depend on supervised learning, requiring labeled data for optimal performance. However, when applied to new construction sites with varied environmental conditions, the effectiveness of these models is often compromised. Additionally, highly imbalanced object class distributions in the data sets, known as long-tailed objects, presents significant challenges during model training, considerably impacting performance. Recognizing this crucial gap in the field, this study proposes a novel approach to improve safety and operational efficiency at construction sites by leveraging a semisupervised learning approach for domain adaptation in long-tailed object detection. The method addresses the challenges of unbalanced class distribution and environmental variability in construction site monitoring, which often degrade the performance of computer vision models. By employing semisupervised learning, both labeled and unlabeled data are utilized in domain adaptation to unseen construction sites, considering both image-and object-level noise, thereby enhancing the model's adaptability to diverse working conditions. Based on the detection results, a risk scenario detection algorithm is also introduced for construction vehicles and workers. The efficacy of the proposed approach was validated through extensive experiments conducted on a comprehensive data set sourced from AIHub and CrowdHuman, in addition to actual self-labeled closed-circuit television (CCTV) data comprising 500 videos from construction sites' CCTV cameras. The evaluations revealed that the proposed method significantly outperforms conventional semisupervised learning by 9.76% on mean average precision for construction vehicle detection and by 3% for the worker detection model, paving the way for advanced construction site monitoring systems that ensure a safer and more efficient working environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Context/Background: Occupational hazards refer to potential risks and dangers that exist in the workplace, which can harm the health, safety, and well-being of workers. Understanding and managing occupational hazards is necessary to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for employees. Aims/Objectives: The study is aimed at studying the demographic profile of the construction workers, awareness and knowledge regarding occupational health problems, occupational safety, and practices of occupational safety measures. Methodology: This community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in various construction projects of unorganized sector in Rewa City. About 180 construction site workers were included in the study. 14 construction sites in Rewa city were identified and randomly 13 construction workers from each site were selected by simple random sampling. Managers/supervisors of the selected projects were contacted, and data was collected using an interview administered questionnaire from construction workers giving consent to participate in the study. Conclusion: From the study, it is evident that it is essential to come up with measures that can create awareness among the construction workers on the importance of safety measures and preventions. To improve the safety of construction workers, it is necessary to identify certain factors that are essential to safety practice, be it education or personal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic nature of the construction industry renders it inherently hazardous, leading to elevated rates of occupational injuries. Thus, it is imperative to explore diverse strategies aimed at mitigating these risks. One such approach is Behavior Based Safety (BBS), which targets the enhancement of safety performance by addressing the behaviors of construction workers. This study undertook a systematic literature review on BBS in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Through this research endeavor, the aim is to deepen the industry comprehension of the conceptual framework, operational mechanisms, and inherent limitations of BBS within the construction industry context. Exploring the intricacies of BBS offers valuable insights into its operational mechanisms and underlying principles within the construction context. The comprehensive review encompassed 14 scholarly articles published between 2010 and 2023, all cataloged within the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) or ScienceDirect databases. Findings from these studies shed light on the effectiveness of BBS and its inherent limitations when applied within construction environments. It becomes increasingly evident that prioritizing safety culture might supersede the sole reliance on BBS methodologies within the construction sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although construction is one of the oldest sectors of the global economy, the digital innovation and application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry are still insignificant. For the past several years, however, with rapid advancements in supporting technologies and computing power, the construction industry has made several strides in areas such as digitalization, data-driven design and planning, and automation. As the industry is in the process of adopting and customizing AI-powered tools and technologies in its daily workflows to improve safety, new opportunities are being created to enable human workers and stakeholders to seamlessly collaborate with AI in various aspects of project design, planning, construction, operation, and maintenance. The promise of human-AI collaboration in construction has, in turn, given rise to new research endeavors that focus on adaptability, usability, and expandability rather than mere algorithmic development. Prior to implementing any new AI technology in construction, users need to understand its impact on the human worker. Despite several systematic literature reviews on the applications of AI in construction, to date, there is limited investigation into the workers' experience during such transition from traditional to AI-driven work. In this study, a systematic literature review on AI in the construction industry is conducted through the lens of how such implementation might affect human workers' performance, behavior, and experience. The paper identifies common human factors involved in introducing AI and discusses the connection between those factors and potential AI applications in the industry. Finally, future directions for human-AI partnership in construction are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is increasingly understood that people with disabilities may be more vulnerable to human trafficking victimization than those without disabilities. This important line of scholarship has been, to date, informed by a small number of studies focusing mostly on minor females identified as having experienced sex trafficking. This study adds to the discourse by presenting findings from a larger study aimed at estimating the prevalence of labor trafficking victimization among construction workers in Houston, Texas, in which we also measured the presence of a disability among respondents. Though only a small number of respondents identified as having been diagnosed with a disability (n = 12), these respondents were more likely to have experienced labor victimization in their lifetime than other respondents who did not report having been diagnosed with a disability (n = 891). Other patterns in victimization experiences among respondents with a disability are explored, and considerations for differentiated opportunities for intervention and prevention are discussed. Lessons learned include the importance of measuring disability status in human trafficking research and a more careful consideration of how to capture and measure disability so findings can be meaningfully translated to preventive action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Within the labor-intensive construction industry characterized by distinctly structural shortages in the labor force worldwide, efficient and effective migration of construction workers across regions is critical for the smooth operation of construction activities. This study aims to investigate how the interregional migration patterns of construction workers are impacted by the disparities in both employment opportunities and environment amenities between the origin and destination provinces. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on the push and pull theory and the archival data on 13,728 migrant construction workers in China, descriptive analyses are first performed to characterize the interregional migration patterns of the investigated construction workers. Combining regional data in the National Bureau of Statistics of China, this study uses hierarchical regression modeling techniques to empirically test the relative importance of the employment-related and environment-related factors in driving the interregional migration of construction workers after controlling for the effects of related economic and geographic factors. Findings: The results provide evidence that the interregional migration of construction workers is principally driven by the disparities in employment opportunities while disparities in environment amenities (including climate comfort disparity, medical service disparity and educational service disparity) generally play much fewer substantive roles. With regard to the impacts of employment opportunities, the results provide evidence that compared with the disparity in job market size, the disparities in job income and industry development level are more significantly relevant factors, which positively pull and adversely push the interregional migration flows, respectively. Research limitations/implications: This study contributes to a deepened understanding of how workers specifically balance their employment and amenity needs to make temporary migration decisions in the "laggard" labor-intensive construction industry. This study also adds to the literature on population migration by characterizing the specific characteristics of construction workers and the temporary nature of the workers' migration activities. The findings hold important practical implications for construction organizations and policymakers for effectively managing the mobility of migrant construction workers. Originality/value: The extant literature on migrant construction workers has primarily focused on the consequences of international migration and the generalization of empirical findings on population migration mechanisms in other domains to the construction industry is substantially limited by the specific characteristics of construction workers and the temporary nature of their migration activities. In addressing this gap, this study represents an exploratory effort to quantitatively characterize the interregional migration patterns of construction workers in the labor-intensive construction industry and examines the roles of employment opportunity and environmental amenity in driving interregional migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry is considered one of the most hazardous industries. The accidents associated with construction equipment are a leading cause of fatalities in the U.S., with one-quarter of all fatalities in the construction industry due to equipment-related incidents, including collisions, struck-by events, and rollovers. While close collaboration among multiple equipment and humans is common, conventional collision alert mechanisms for equipment usually rely on distance sensors with static thresholds, often resulting in too many false alarms, causing drivers' ignorance. Considering the collaborative operation scenario, this research proposes and develops a dynamic-threshold alert system by recognizing hazardous events based on the types of nearby objects with their orientation or postures and their distances to the system carrier equipment based on image-based recognition and Sim2Real techniques. Two experiments were conducted, and the results show that the system successfully reduced a large number of false near-collision alarms for the collaboration scenarios. Although the accuracy of object recognition and image-based distance estimation is feasible for practical use, it is also easily degraded in the self-obstruction scenario or for equipment with large and movable parts due to incorrect recognition of the bounding boxes of the target objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry's poor safety is a global issue, with construction workers' unsafe behaviors (CWUBs) identified as a major cause of accidents. Based on social cognitive theory (SCT) and using multiple regression analysis, this study categorizes accident experience (AE) into direct and indirect types, examining how each affects CWUBs and the roles of risk perception (RP), safety attitude (SA), and safety competence (SC) in these relationships. Utilizing a structured questionnaire completed by 334 valid respondents and analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM), the study found that indirect experience (IE) significantly reduced CWUBs, with a standardized path coefficient of −0.364, while direct experience (DE) has a smaller impact, with a standardized path coefficient of −0.154, but a significant p. Furthermore, IE positively influenced RP, SA, and SC, explaining 66.8% of its total effect. This study offers a new framework for understanding how AE influences CWUBs, providing actionable insights for managers to implement effective strategies that reduce CWUBs on construction sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Autonomous agents are increasingly becoming construction workers' teammates, making them an integral part of tomorrow's construction industry. Although many expect that worker–autonomy teaming will enhance construction efficiency, the presence of auto-agents, or robots necessitates an appropriate level of trust-building between workers and their autonomous counterparts, especially because these auto-agents' perfection still cannot be guaranteed. Although researchers have widely explored human–autonomy trust in various domains—such as manufacturing and the military—discussion of this teaming dynamic within the construction sector is still nascent. To address this gap, this paper simulated a futuristic bricklaying task to (1) examine whether identifying autonomous agents' physical and informational failures and risk perception affect workers' trust levels, and (2) investigate workers' neuropsychophysiological responses as a measure of trust levels toward robots, especially when autonomous agents are faulty. Results indicate that (1) identification of both types of failures and high-risk perception significantly reduce workers' trust in autonomous agents, and the nuances of workers' responses to both types of failures were discerned; and (2) brain activation correlates with trust changes. The findings suggest that workers' unfamiliarity with autonomous technologies, coupled with fast-growing interest in adopting them, may leave workers at risk of improper trust transfer or overtrust in the autonomous agents. This study contributes to an expanding exploration of worker–autonomy trust in construction and calls for further investigations into effective approaches for auto-agents to communicate their physical and informational failures and to help workers recover and repair trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which aims to ensure healthy lifestyles and promote well-being for all, is a critical focus within the context of construction health and safety, particularly for construction workers. A significant factor influencing the health and safety of construction workers is their consumption of alcohol and tobacco (A&T). This article presents a systematic review of the research on A&T use among construction workers, an analysis of key findings, research methodologies, and recommendations. A knowledge-mapping approach is applied to 108 articles sourced from the Web of Science (WOS), generating clusters of relevant keywords to illustrate the interrelationships between A&T usage and construction workers. The knowledge map reveals 40 distinct keyword distributions, organised into five clusters, highlighting the key connections between alcohol, tobacco, and construction workers. From an initial pool of 336 articles from WOS and Scopus, 26 were selected based on the PRISMA protocol for further analysis. A review of these 26 studies demonstrates a predominant use of mixed-methods and quantitative research approaches. The findings show the heightened vulnerability of construction workers to hazardous A&T consumption, its adverse health effects, and the urgent need for comprehensive interventions aimed at reducing or eliminating this risk.

Abstract Background Global warming is raising increasing concerns about its impact on worker productivity, particularly in industries like construction where outdoor physically demanding jobs are prevalent. This study aimed to perform a meta-analysis to assess the existing evidence on the impact of heat exposure on productivity loss among construction workers. Methods We conducted a comprehensive literature search across six databases—Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and IEEE—covering the period from database inception to September 18, 2024. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist was used for quality assessment. A random-effect model meta-analysis was performed, and publication bias was evaluated by Egger’s and Begg’s tests. Results From an initial pool of 1209 studies, 14 met the inclusion criteria, representing data from 2387 workers. Our findings indicate that 60% (95% CI: 0.48–0.72, p

Construction work is physically demanding. The tasks involved in this professional occupation physically exhaust workers and put them at high risk of injury. This work aimed to analyze muscle fatigue in civil construction workers with and without a history of physical activity. For this purpose, the muscle activity of the biceps femoris, trapezius transversalis, and erector spinae longissimus muscles was evaluated using surface electromyography. Eleven male civil construction workers aged 26 to 52 years (38.00 ± 9.60), seven of whom were untrained (N = 7) and four of whom were trained (N = 4), participated in this study. Each subject completed two assessments at two different times. A questionnaire was completed for the first assessment, and each subject’s maximum repetition for the deadlift exercise was assessed. In the second assessment, the subjects were assessed while performing the deadlift in four different situations: 50%RM at rest, 70%RM at rest, 70%RM at fatigue, and 50%RM at fatigue. The trained construction workers had higher levels of muscle activity, and there were no significant differences in muscle activation between the fatigued and non-fatigued sets. There appears to be a strong influence of physical exercise on muscle activity and fatigue in civil construction workers.

Introduction: The safety harness is a critical device for preventing falls from height, particularly in the construction industry. This study aimed to identify the factors contributing to the non-use of safety harnesses during work at height and to evaluate the comfort, satisfaction, and usability of these harnesses among construction workers in Tehran using a custom-designed tool. Material and Methods: A semi-structured interview was conducted with construction workers to identify the factors influencing the non-use of safety harnesses. The collected data were analyzed using MAXQDA 10 software. Based on the results, which revealed dissatisfaction with the current safety harnesses, the levels of comfort, satisfaction, and usability were assessed using the Safety Harness Usability and Comfort Assessment Tool (SHUCAT) questionnaire. Results: The reasons for not using safety harnesses were categorized into four main groups: management factors, worker attitudes, comfort, and harness design. These were further subdivided into 27 subgroups. The average satisfaction and comfort scores for safety harnesses were 26.8 ± 6.25, indicating that workers generally felt uncomfortable and dissatisfied with their harnesses. The average usability score was 38.70 ± 5.60, reflecting poor usability of the harnesses. Conclusion: Improving the safety harness design could enhance workers’ comfort and satisfaction, increasing their willingness to use the equipment. Incorporating feedback from users and experts into the design process can help address the identified shortcomings and result in better product development.

Background The United Arab Emirates (UAE) construction industry has rapidly expanded, but construction work, by its nature, poses a high risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). These disorders significantly impact quality of life (QoL) and productivity and lead to disability and absenteeism. Aims and Objectives The study aims to determine the prevalence of WMSDs among UAE construction workers using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and assess their QoL using the Short-Form (SF-36) survey. Additionally, it aims to explore factors associated with WMSDs and QoL among construction workers in the United Arab Emirates. Methods This study is a cross-sectional, survey-based design conducted from July 2023 to May 2024 in the United Arab Emirates. The study included male construction workers aged 18-50 with at least 1 year of experience. Participants were recruited using a combination of convenience and purposive sampling methods. The data were collected via paper-based forms using the SF-36 and NMQ questionnaires. The study instruments were chosen after reviewing relevant literature to ensure minimal measurement bias. Statistical methods included descriptive statistics, tests for normality, and Pearson’s correlation test with a significance level of p Results A total of 346 construction workers were accessed and the study found an 81.8% 12-month WMSD prevalence, most commonly affecting the lower back (44.8%), neck (45.1%), and shoulders (37.9%). Additionally, 70.5% reported pain-related limitations, and 63.6% experienced pain in the past week. SF-36 scores were lowest for role limitations due to physical health (30.33) and emotional problems (33.43), with an overall mean of 52.27 out of 100. Conclusion The study found a high prevalence of WMSD in construction workers and moderate quality of life scores. These findings highlight the urgent need to prioritize construction worker health through targeted interventions.

Purpose: This paper presents the findings of assessing the strategies required for improved work-life balance (WLB) of construction workers in Eswatini. This was done to improve the work-life relationship of construction workers and, in turn, improve the service delivery of the construction industry in the country. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a quantitative research approach using a questionnaire administered to construction professionals in the country. The data gathered were analysed using frequency, percentage, Mann–Whitney U test, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Findings: The findings revealed that the level of implementation of WLB initiatives in the Eswatini construction industry is still low. Following the attaining of several model fitness, the study found that the key strategies needed for effective WLB can be classified into four significant components, namely: (1) leave, (2) health and wellness, (3) work flexibility, and; (4) days off/shared work. Practical implications: The findings offer valuable benefits to construction participants as the adoption of the identified critical strategies can lead to the fulfilment of WLB of the construction workforce and by extension, the construction industry can benefit from better job performance. Originality/value: This study is the first to assess the strategies needed for improved WLB of construction workers in Eswatini. Furthermore, the study offers a theoretical platform for future discourse on WLB in Eswatini, a country that has not gained significant attention in past WLB literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: While existing research has explored the association between supervisor support and turnover intention among construction workers, there is a notable gap in the literature concerning the potential mediating role of work engagement in elucidating this relationship, warranting further investigation. The paper, hence, aims to examine the mediating role of work engagement in the relationship between supervisor support and turnover intention among construction workers. Design/methodology/approach: Based on the quantitative research method, the hypothesis was tested. The data were collected from 144 construction professionals using a structured questionnaire. Observed variables were tested using confirmatory factor analysis, and the mediating role relationship was validated using hierarchical regression. Findings: The outcome of this study shows a significant positive impact of work engagement and supervisor support on employee turnover intention. The study further showed that work engagement plays a mediating role in the connection between supervisory support and the intention to turnover and improve project and business performance. Turnover intention, on the other hand, negatively affects project and organizational performance. Practical implications: By enhancing employee work engagement and perceptions of supervisor support, the findings of this study may aid construction organizations in making better judgments regarding the likelihood of employee turnover. The effectiveness of the project and the organization will likely be greatly impacted. Originality/value: The results of this study provide supporting evidence and advance efforts at reducing employee turnover intention through work engagement and supervisor support in improving project and organizational performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The deviant behavior (DB) of construction workers has always been a troubling event in project management. Although scholars continue to search for the main causes of this behavior to curb it at the source, the authors know less about the role and contribution of the team. This study aims to uncover the mechanisms and conditions under which collective moral judgment focus on self (CMJS) effectively enhances DB. Design/methodology/approach: Adopting Chinese construction enterprises as samples, a hierarchical linear model (HLM) is used to test the results of the hypothesis. Moderated mediating effects are used to analyze the potential mechanisms and boundary conditions of DB. Findings: The results of the HLM analysis show that CMJS could directly and significantly induce DB, and moral disengagement (MD) plays a mediator role in this association. In addition, the positive relationship between MD and DB is stronger when performance-avoidance goal orientation (PaGO) or overqualification (Overq) is higher. Research limitations/implications: The conditions and mechanisms that influence DB are not unique. Future study could examine the explanatory and weighting mechanisms of DB from other perspectives or to construct a framework and summarize the factors that may influence DB. Practical implications: This study provides a rich theoretical basis for the prevention and correction of construction workers' DB in Chinese construction firms from the perspective of CMJS. In addition, objective moral judgments contribute to guiding employees' moral cognitive processes and positive work. Originality/value: This study extends existing research on DB and advances the practical outcomes of construction project governance. It not only illustrates that CMJS has a direct impact on DB but also clarifies the mechanisms and conditions that predispose to the generation of DB, filling the research gap on construction workers' DB from cross-level mechanisms and also enriching the theoretical system for preventing this behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, monitoring productivity, occupational health, and safety of construction workers has long been a significant concern. To address this issue, there is an urgent need for efficient methods to continuously monitor construction sites and recognize workers' actions in a timely manner. Recently, advances in electronic technology and pose estimation algorithms have made it easier to obtain skeleton and joint trajectories of human bodies. Deep learning algorithms have emerged as robust and automated tools for extracting and processing 3D skeleton information on construction sites, proving effective for workforce action assessment. However, most previous studies on action recognition have primarily focused on single-stream data, which limited the network's ability to capture more comprehensive worker action features. Therefore, this research proposes a Spatial-Temporal Multi-Feature Network (STMF-Net) designed to utilize six 3D skeleton-based features to monitor and capture the movements of construction workers, thereby recognizing their actions. The experimental results demonstrate an accuracy of 79.36%. The significance of this work lies in its potential to enhance management models within the construction industry, ultimately improving workers' health and work efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]