Why Do Construction Hazards Remain Unrecognized at the Work Interface?

Proper hazard recognition is an essential prerequisite to effective safety management. However, recent research has demonstrated that a large proportion of safety hazards remain unrecognized and unmanaged in complex and dynamic construction environments. Despite the importance of hazard recognition, there is a dearth of research examining why construction hazards remain unrecognized. Although few studies have examined upstream factors such as management support and experience that can indirectly influence hazard recognition levels, studies have not focused on downstream workplace factors that directly impact performance. The objective of this exploratory research was to address this knowledge gap by identifying potential impediments to hazard recognition while workers examine the work environment. In the first phase of the study, eight construction workers were engaged in a hazard recognition activity using construction case images captured from real projects within the United States. Brainstorming sessions were then conducted with the workers to identify why certain hazards remained unrecognized. In the following second phase, additional factors that impact hazard recognition and relevant industry examples were gathered by engaging an expert panel of industry professionals and academic researchers. The research process yielded 13 factors that can potentially impede thorough hazard recognition. A follow-up validation study with construction workers revealed that the most common reasons that lead to unrecognized hazards included: (1) selective attention or inattention to certain hazard types, (2) unknown potential hazard set, and (3) the perception that certain hazards impose low levels of safety risk. The findings of this research will be useful in developing effective hazard recognition methods and safety training programs that are cognizant of field-level challenges.