Investigation of Demographic Factors in Construction Employees’ Safety Perceptions

Abstract

This study focused on the effects of these demographic factors on construction employees’ safety perceptions. It first initiated a theoretical framework illustrating the impacts of demographic factors (i.e., education level, gender, and age) on employee’s perceptions towards pre-defined site hazards as well as their general safety perception. Then site questionnaire survey approach was adopted in nine construction jobsites in southeastern China followed by statistical analysis. The study revealed that construction employees’ education level, although not affecting their perceptions towards safety hazards/accidents, could create differences in other general safety perceptions between management staff and workers. Gender differences were found in safety perceptions of hazard/accident scenes and general safety perceptions, indicating that gender issue in safety perceptions applied consistently crossing different industries. Employees between 37 and 46 years old tended to underestimate safety risks from commonly encountered hazards, suggesting the needs of continued safety refreshers for employees in the middle of their career. This study contributed to the body of knowledge in safety perceptions by investigating the effect of three major subgroup or demographic factors, including education level, gender, and age, which had not been sufficiently addressed in construction safety subculture or sub-climate.