How do workers decide to work safely? Mechanisms of occupational safety decision-making failure

Abstract

Occupational safety decision-making failures among employees represent a fundamental challenge for organizations, as such failures are a significant factor in unsafe behaviors and accidents. However, the specific causes of occupational safety decision-making failure remain inadequately understood. To address this research gap, this study explores the mechanisms of occupational safety decision-making failure from the perspective of the matching degree between safety decision-making capability and task demands. Drawing on the task-capability interface model and resource limitation theory, this study proposes that a U-shaped relationship between the matching degree of safety decision-making capability and task demands, and safety decision-making failure. Through an experimental vignette study involving 252 industry employees and hierarchical regression analysis, the study validates the proposed model. The results indicate that the impact of the matching degree between safety decision-making capability and task demands on safety decision-making failure is U-shaped. Additionally, optimism bias moderates this U-shaped relationship. Theoretically, this study is the first to propose and validate the U-shaped impact of safety decision-making capability-task demand matching degree on safety decision-making failure. This finding not only deepens the understanding of the potential mechanisms of occupational safety decision-making failure but also contributes to the development of the task-capability interface model. Practically, the study emphasizes the importance of dynamically balancing safety decision-making capability and task demands. Organizations should not only prevent risks arising from insufficient safety decision-making capability relative to task demands but also avoid decision laxity and distraction caused by excessive capability. This balance ensures optimal decision-making and reduces occupational safety accidents.