Enhancing safety behavior in construction: a novel model integrating ability, motivation and opportunity theory

Frequent unsafe behaviors in construction projects, such as unauthorized operations, neglect of safety equipment and violation of safety regulations, pose serious threats to both site safety and project timelines. This study offers a novel approach by integrating contextual and individual factors into a model designed to enhance safety behaviors. Drawing on the ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) theory, the study applies structural equation modeling to empirically analyze data from 350 experienced construction employees. The findings reveal that safety climate and safety cognition positively impact safety behavior, with cognition mediating the connection between safety climate and behavior. Additionally, psychological capital is found to positively moderate the relationship between safety climate and performance. This research contributes new empirical evidence by offering a deeper understanding of the mechanisms influencing safety behavior, providing actionable recommendations to mitigate unsafe actions and improve safety management in construction projects.