Interactions among Cognitive Factors Affecting Unsafe Behavior: Integrative Fuzzy DEMATEL ISM Approach

The prevention of industrial accidents is not completely practical by implementing safety programs unless focusing on protecting vulnerable workers. The unsafe behavior cognitive factors (UBCFs) are essential determinants contributing to human failure. This study aimed at eliciting the most important UBCFs, along with investigating hierarchical cause-effect interactions among them. A qualitative approach using metasynthesis was utilized to extract all essential UBCFs among industrial workplaces. Afterward, the relationships between UBCFs were recognized using the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method and rated by an expert panel. Also, a hierarchical model was developed based on the final matrix of DEMATEL by employing the interpretive structural modeling (ISM) method. Ten criteria were extracted as UBCFs through the metasynthesis method. The threshold value was set as 0.175 in DEMATEL following experts’ ideas. Inadequacy of persons’ resilience and habitual rule ignorance were recognized as the most important predictive UBCFs. The developed model was tested through a case study in a petrochemical company. The results of the study can be used to help industrial managers and HSE practitioners to consider workers’ capabilities either cognitively or physically when designing the required tasks to reduce unsafe behaviors. Also, the findings of the study are applicable for other researchers to prioritize the most important factors affecting unsafe behavior in different workplaces.