Insights into construction workers' risk-taking behaviors based on LDA topic modeling

Purpose The construction industry experiences frequent accidents, largely due to construction workers' intentional risk-taking behaviors. Existing research is fragmented, focusing on isolated aspects and lacking a comprehensive examination. This study systematically reviews the multifaceted factors influencing construction workers' intentional risk-taking behaviors and provides theoretical insights and practical recommendations to improve safety management practices in the industry. Design/methodology/approach This study employs Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling to systematically review the multifaceted factors influencing construction workers' intentional risk-taking behaviors. Through an extensive review, key research topics were identified and discussed. Findings The study identified five critical factors influencing risk-taking behaviors: individual cognition, organizational culture, environmental conditions, safety management frameworks and policy impacts. Findings revealed that construction workers' risk-taking behaviors are shaped by a complex interplay of individual risk perception, cognitive processes, organizational influences, safety culture and environmental factors. This interaction provides a deeper understanding of the causes of intentional risk-taking in construction settings. Research limitations/implications This study highlights the need for an integrated safety management approach that addresses individual and organizational factors. It suggests interventions like personalized safety measures, improved safety culture and consideration of environmental impacts. Future research should explore the dynamic interactions among these factors in real-time construction settings. Originality/value This study is one of the first to use LDA topic modeling to systematically explore the multidimensional factors influencing intentional risk-taking behaviors among construction workers. By integrating individual, organizational, safety culture and environmental factors, it provides a comprehensive perspective on mitigating risk-taking behaviors in the construction industry.