The mediating role of emotional intelligence in the adoption of technologies used in occupational health and safety

<i>Objectives</i>. This study evaluated occupational health and safety prevention and control technologies (OHS-PCTs) within the scope of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology-2 in the context of preventing occupational accidents and diseases and supporting safe behavior changes. <i>Methods</i>. The data collected from this study using OHS-PCT tools, which included 607 employees, were analyzed using descriptive statistics, normality tests, item analyses, correlation analyses, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis and mediation methods. <i>Results</i>. The findings revealed that emotional intelligence (EQ) partially mediated the effects of the sub-dimensions of the OHS-PCT tool acceptance and use models, such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, price value and habituation, on behavioral intention. The effective adoption and use of OHS-PCT tools in reducing workplace risks depended on their technical features and employees' attitudes, intentions and behaviors. <i>Conclusions</i>. The study reveals the role of EQ, which interacts with psychological and emotional processes in the workplace, in enhancing OHS-PCT acceptance and safety performance. This study fills an important gap in the existing literature on the role of EQ in adopting OHS-PCT to prevent occupational accidents and diseases. This provides a new and holistic perspective to this field.