An agent-based modeling approach for understanding the effect of worker-management interactions on construction workers' safety-related behaviors
Authored by Peiyao Zhang, Nan Li, Zhongming Jiang, Dongping Fang, Chimay J Anumba
Date Published: 2019
DOI: 10.1016/j.autcon.2018.10.015
Sponsors:
Chinese National Natural Science Foundation
Platforms:
No platforms listed
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
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Mathematical description
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
Pervasive unsafe behaviors of construction workers are the primary cause
of accidents on construction job sites. The workers' safety-related
behaviors are subject to a variety of factors, such as interactions with
coworkers and interventions by management teams. The impacts of these
factors have attracted considerable attention in academia but are yet to
be fully examined. To provide a quantitative assessment of these impacts
and their managerial implications in practice, an agent-based modeling
approach of construction safety-related behaviors, which adopts a
bottom-up architecture, is proposed in this research. This approach
regards safety performance as an emergent property of the behaviors and
interactions of construction workers and management teams. The
development of the agent-based model is based on a range of theoretical
and empirical evidence, including a cognitive analysis model for
modeling worker behaviors, and site observations and surveys for the
design of simulated working environment and tasks, as well as the
modeling of individual behaviors and interactions. Four managerial
scenarios are simulated using the proposed approach. Based on the
simulation results, the effects of a number of managerial factors on the
safety performance of construction workers are examined. These factors
include duties of supervisors, the competency and inspection strategy of
safety officers, the frequency of safety training, senior managers'
involvement in safety activities and emphasis on safety goals. The
effects of these factors are examined in a quantitative manner, and
relevant implications for construction safety management practice are
discussed. The findings prove that agent-based modeling is an effective
approach for analyzing the characteristics and patterns of construction
safety-related behaviors and assessing possible safety management
strategies.
Tags
Simulation
Agent-based modeling
Performance
Culture
Leadership
Identification
Accidents
Projects
Contractors
Owners
Safety management
Construction site safety
Safety-related behavior
Predictors