Assessment of construction workers occupational safety competencies using signal detection theory

Construction accidents in general and fall accidents in particular are of major concern in construction, as many lives are lost and business suffers. Despite the contribution of construction accident causation models, accidents occur. Most of the models that have been developed stress identification of the underlying causes of accidents and have sided with either management or the workers fault. None of these models could adequately explain the process of construction accident due to their dynamic nature.;A new approach to understand construction accidents has been proposed by Howell et al (2002) based on the work of Rasmussen (1997). One of the aspects of this model is focused on worker training to identify the hazard zone (unsafe condition) beyond which work is no longer safe. The main goal of this research was to develop a methodology by which worker sensitivity to unsafe conditions and risk orientation (the tendency of a worker to work in a condition despite knowing it is unsafe) can be assessed prior to prescribing a training program. This research proposes such methodology based on signal detection theory (SDT), which is used in the manufacturing industry to detect defective component. Application of SDT in the construction industry to determine sensitivity and risk orientation of ironworkers has been explained in this thesis. This would help to design guidelines on how to enhance construction workers' training and also their abilities to identify by themselves the boundary beyond which work is not safe.