Modeling the Role of Social Networks on Hazard Recognition and Communication

Abstract

Proper hazard recognition and communication are fundamental to injury prevention in construction. When construction hazards remain unrecognized, the likelihood of injuries in the workplace increases. Therefore, construction employers encourage their workers to actively participate in prejob safety meetings to facilitate the recognition, communication, and management of potential safety hazards. However, field-level hazard communication challenges, including ineffective communication channels, differences in language proficiency, and poor safety climate, are significant impediments to effective safety management. In this study, social network analysis was adopted to evaluate the relationship between safety communication patterns among workers and hazard-recognition performance. Specifically, (1) crew-level safety interaction data were compiled for 18 active crews representing six diverse projects in the United States, (2) the hazard-recognition performance of the participating crews was measured though field observatory studies, and (3) the relationship between social interactions and hazard-recognition performance was assessed using social network methods. The research findings suggest that well-connected crews with higher numbers of safety communication ties (i.e., network density) collectively recognize a larger proportion of hazards compared to those crews with fewer ties. Moreover, supervisor centrality in safety communication patterns differentiate crews with higher hazard-recognition levels from their lower-performance counterparts. The findings highlight the importance of network patterns in the communication of construction hazards.