Personality traits affecting construction Worker's near-miss recognition performance: Analysis based on eye tracking

Abstract

The construction industry is widely acknowledged as hazardous in nature, requiring proactive measures to mitigate accidents and minimize fatalities. While hazard recognition is recognized as a key preventive measure, research gaps persist regarding the impact of workers' personalities on near-miss identification. This study aimed to investigate the influence of the big five personality traits on construction workers' recognition of the Fatal-four near-miss incidents. Using an eye-tracking experiment conducted in a controlled environment, 35 participants were exposed to 16 well-balanced near-miss scenarios derived from actual construction sites. Participants completed self-reported questionnaires to assess their personality traits, and their near-miss recognition performance was recorded and analyzed using a wearable eye tracker. The findings revealed a significant correlation between openness/intellect and workers' attentiveness indicators. Notably, individuals with higher scores in openness/intellect displayed enhanced attentiveness during the task. Moreover, the influence analysis demonstrated that workers with low conscientiousness and low openness/intellect exhibited a higher frequency and earlier attention to Fatal-four near-miss opportunities within the presented images. This study provides empirical evidence on the relationship between personality traits, attentiveness, prioritization, and near-miss incidents in the construction industry. The results open avenues for developing personalized safety training programs tailored to individuals with lower near-miss identification abilities, thereby fostering robust safety culture within the construction sector.