Underlying Causes for Risk Taking Behaviour Among Construction Workers

This paper will examine the unsafe work practices that are plaguing the construction industry. Statistics show that four out of five of all workplace accidents are attributed to unsafe behaviour. Research studies have sought to understand worker self-protection. For example, it is difficult to make predictions of conditions that influenced worker’s behaviour to act unsafely or safely in a given work situation. It is evident there is a gap in the literature in this area of research, most notably failing to understand the underlying “why” factors. The aim of the study is to identify and examine the proximate set of contributing factors most likely to have an influence on workers’ decisions about participation in unsafe behaviour. To perform the study, questionnaires were adopted, and 225 construction workers from 9 construction companies participated in the study. Results showed that both underlying organizational factors and individual factors could affect the risk aversion among construction workers. The paper also highlights measures to create a safe work environment to minimize unsafe behaviour among construction workers. Results from the study are important to help organization to systematically plan for a good working environment.