Construction Health Hazard Control Innovations: A Web-Based Intervention to Change Perceptions

Abstract

ABSTRACT A theory-based intervention strategy to improve perceptions of construction health hazard control innovations was developed and tested in the following trades: masonry (n = 90), concrete (n = 52), and asphalt roofing (n = 105). A web-based intervention was designed to target constructs of the Prevention through Design Adoption Readiness Model (PtD ARM) and included information about the health impacts of construction health hazards; side-by-side videos of both conventional and innovative tools; information about control effectiveness, productivity, and task performance. The interventions were evaluated using a pre-test/posttest, within-subjects experimental design, with control groups. Posttest data were collected immediately, three months, and six months following the intervention. A validated survey instrument was used to collect data regarding dependent variables: health knowledge (HK), perceived ease of use (PEOU), perceived impacts on productivity (PU), perceived worker susceptibility to health effects (SUS), perceived health-effect severity (SEV), adoption readiness (AR), and actual use (AU). Open-ended questions generated qualitative data regarding benefits and barriers to adoption of the innovations and were analyzed using Content Analysis. Gain-score ANOVA found significant improvements in PEOU and PU in all intervention groups. In addition, significant improvements in HK, risk, and AR were found in the asphalt roofing intervention group.