A System Dynamics Approach for Modeling Cognitive Process of Construction Workers'Unsafe Behaviors

Abstract

Finding causes of workers’ unsafe behaviors is important to prevent construction accidents because 80 percent of accidents occur by workers’ unsafe behaviors. In this regard, this research aims to investigate possible reasons of workers’ unsafe behaviors based on workers’ cognitive process model using System dynamics. This study is based on two ways of workers’ cognitive process which are in relation to hazard perception and failure of hazard perception. Based on existing literature, causal loops for workers’ cognitive process are developed to explain workers’ habituation by staying out of accidents, safety learning by experience, failure of hazard perception, and attitude change by accidents. The interactions between the developed loops provide managerial insights to reduce workers’ unsafe behaviors from a safety manager’s perspective including increasing the probability of workers’ hazard perception through knowledge management, maintaining workers’ positive attitude toward safety, and controlling first-line supervisors to eliminate workers’ unsafe behavior. The research allows us to better understand the causes and solutions of workers’ unsafe behaviors in workers’ cognitive perspectives.