Fuzzy evaluation of factors influencing safety behavioural intention (SBI) of construction workers

Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate the factors that influence saftey behaviourial intention (SBI) of construction workers. While SBI has been identified as the most proximal cause of unsafe behaviour, few studies have modelled the dynamic relationships of factors influencing it. Moreover, the few studies that have modelled the relationship have, in most cases, provided ambiguous results with varying levels of consistency. Design/methodology/approach Using a semi-structured questionnaire, this study adopted a fuzzy synthesis evaluation (FSE) approach based on quantitative data from 562 construction workers across Nigeria. Findings Results from the FSE show that 25 out of 35 factors identified from previous studies were critical. The FSE analysis yielded an overall SBI index of 3.52, emphasising the critical nature of these factors. In addition, the study yielded an empirical principal categorisation of SBI factors into “safety knowledge”, “work experience”, “perceived behaviour”, safety attitude”, “safety compliance”, “safety participation” and “safety motivation”. Practical implications This study underscores the factors that influence SBI of construction workers, emphasising the need to foster a safety-first culture by encouraging active worker involvement in safety efforts that include hazard identification and mitigation. Originality/value Adopting a fuzzy methodological approach, findings from this study contribute to comprehending the influence of individual safety dynamics of construction workers, towards a holistic lens through which safety behaviour dynamics of construction workers could be better established.