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A cognitive analysis of why Chinese scaffolders do not use safety harnesses in construction

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  • Mengchun Zhang
  • Dongping Fang

Abstract

Chinese scaffolders not using safety harnesses is commonplace, despite scaffolders being constantly exposed to fall hazards on construction sites and the use of safety harnesses being required by law. The causes of Chinese scaffolders not using safety harnesses are explored through theoretical analyses and empirical tests. In theoretical analyses, based on Surry’s model, the major cause of scaffolders not using safety harnesses was identified as their personal decisions not to do so. The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) was used to analyse why scaffolders decided not to use safety harnesses. In empirical tests, scaffolders on seven sites completed questionnaires developed based on TPB, and nine safety officers participated in a focus group meeting to collect their views on scaffolders’ use of safety harnesses. In addition, two scaffolders, one gangmaster, one safety officer, and one foreman were interviewed to verify the results of the questionnaire survey. Empirical tests results show that the inconvenience and discomfort of using safety harnesses, underestimating the risk of not using safety harnesses, negative pressures from gangmasters, foremen, and safety officers, and lack of safety lines are causes of scaffolders deciding not to use safety harnesses. Measures enhancing the use of safety harnesses are proposed based on the results of empirical tests.

Suggested Citation

  • Mengchun Zhang & Dongping Fang, 2013. "A cognitive analysis of why Chinese scaffolders do not use safety harnesses in construction," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(3), pages 207-222, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:conmgt:v:31:y:2013:i:3:p:207-222
    DOI: 10.1080/01446193.2013.764000
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    Cited by:

    1. Wei Tong Chen & Hew Cameron Merrett & Ying-Hua Huang & Theresia Avila Bria & Ying-Hsiu Lin, 2021. "Exploring the Relationship between Safety Climate and Worker Safety Behavior on Building Construction Sites in Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-21, March.
    2. F. T. T. Phua, 2017. "Does the built-environment industry attract risk-taking individuals?," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(4), pages 207-217, April.
    3. Tingru Zhang & Zhaopeng Liu & Shiwen Zheng & Xingda Qu & Da Tao, 2020. "Predicting Errors, Violations, and Safety Participation Behavior at Nuclear Power Plants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-14, August.
    4. Aminu Darda’u Rafindadi & Nasir Shafiq & Idris Othman & Miljan Mikić, 2023. "Mechanism Models of the Conventional and Advanced Methods of Construction Safety Training. Is the Traditional Method of Safety Training Sufficient?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-19, January.
    5. Aminu Darda’u Rafindadi & Nasir Shafiq & Idris Othman, 2022. "A Conceptual Framework for BIM Process Flow to Mitigate the Causes of Fall-Related Accidents at the Design Stage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-37, October.
    6. Gui Ye & Hongzhe Yue & Jingjing Yang & Hongyang Li & Qingting Xiang & Yuan Fu & Can Cui, 2020. "Understanding the Sociocognitive Process of Construction Workers’ Unsafe Behaviors: An Agent-Based Modeling Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-33, March.
    7. Evan A. Nadhim & Carol Hon & Bo Xia & Ian Stewart & Dongping Fang, 2016. "Falls from Height in the Construction Industry: A Critical Review of the Scientific Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-20, June.
    8. Juan Carlos Rubio-Romero & Manuel Suárez-Cebador & María del Carmen Pardo-Ferreira & José María De la Varga-Salto & Jesús Antonio Carrillo-Castrillo, 2019. "Does Europe Need an EU Product Safety Directive for Access Scaffolding?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-18, January.
    9. Banus Kam Leung Low & Siu Shing Man & Alan Hoi Shou Chan & Saad Alabdulkarim, 2019. "Construction Worker Risk-Taking Behavior Model with Individual and Organizational Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-13, April.

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