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The Double-Edged Sword of Safety Training for Safety Behavior: The Critical Role of Psychological Factors during COVID-19

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  • Xin Ning

    (School of Investment and Construction Management, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, Dalian 116025, China)

  • Jiwen Huang

    (School of Investment and Construction Management, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, Dalian 116025, China)

  • Chunlin Wu

    (School of Economics and Management, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
    Beijing Key Laboratory of Emergency Support Simulation Technologies for City Operations, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Tong Liu

    (School of Investment and Construction Management, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, Dalian 116025, China)

  • Chao Wang

    (Bert S. Turner Department of Construction Management, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA)

Abstract

Safety training (ST) is the primary means of avoiding unsafe behaviors, but it has not achieved the expected impact on improving workplace safety because of the high psychological stress it brings to workers. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) further threatens workers’ psychological conditions, thereby diminishing the effectiveness of ST. However, the existing literature has mainly laid emphasis on the bright side of ST and neglected examining its impact on safety behavior (SB) from detrimental psychological factors. Drawing from the conservation of resources theory, a novel two-staged model was established to understand how these psychological factors mediate and moderate the association between ST and SB. We incorporated resource consumption (e.g., role overload (RO) and COVID-19-related task setbacks) and resource generation (e.g., psychological resilience) into the model to consider both detrimental and protective psychological factors against ST. We then implemented a time-separated, three-wave data collection on a sample of frontline workers to validate this hypothetical model. Consistent with our hypothesis, RO played a significant mediating role between ST and SB, that is, ST leads to RO, and in turn, holds up SB. Surprisingly, contrary to our hypothesis, COVID-19-related task setbacks weakened the negative and indirect impact of ST on SB via RO. This is one of the first empirical studies to highlight how detrimental psychological factors caused by ST constrict or amplify SB. In practice, the efficacy of ST can be enhanced by cultivating psychological resilience and clarifying employees’ job responsibilities to reduce the ambiguity of roles.

Suggested Citation

  • Xin Ning & Jiwen Huang & Chunlin Wu & Tong Liu & Chao Wang, 2022. "The Double-Edged Sword of Safety Training for Safety Behavior: The Critical Role of Psychological Factors during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:10951-:d:904818
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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