Effect of environmental distraction on safety behavior: A path analysis approach

BackgroundEnvironmental variables can affect employee safety in different ways. These variables can reduce attention and concentration and cause distraction. Numerous studies have been conducted to examine the impact of distraction on safety, with results that have been inconsistent.ObjectiveBased on a comprehensive literature review, we propose the hypothesis that environmental distractions can affect safety behavior either directly or indirectly through other factors. This study was conducted to investigate this hypothesis.MethodsThis cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 474 employees from manufacturing industries in Iran. Data were collected through a self-report questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using the path analysis method in IBM SPSS AMOS 24.0 software. The validity of the model was assessed using the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), comparative fit index (CFI), and the coefficient of determination (R²).ResultsBased on the results of the path analysis and model fit indices (CFI = 0.99, TLI = 0.99, χ²/df = 1.09, RMSEA = 0.014), environmental distraction indirectly affects safety behavior through fatigue, human-systems interaction, and situation awareness. The findings indicated that environmental distraction did not have a significant direct effect on safety behavior. Among the four variables studied, situation awareness had the greatest impact on safety behavior.ConclusionsThe study results indicated that more favorable workplace conditions (such as noise levels, temperature, colleagues' traffic, crowded work environments, and availability of private space) help prevent fatigue and improve human-system interaction. Consequently, reduced fatigue and enhanced human-system interaction lead to greater situation awareness and safer behaviors.