Predicting safety compliance and behaviour in construction site: an extended theory of planned behaviour model / Lim Chun Aik

Faculty of Industrial Management

Thesis (Master of Science ) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al Sultan Abdullah - 2024

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The construction industry plays a vital role in Malaysia’s economic development, yet it remains one of the most hazardous sectors, with a high rate of workplace accidents and fatalities. Despite numerous initiatives to improve safety, such as regulatory reforms, safety training programmes, and enhanced site supervision, accident rates remain alarmingly high. An increasing body of research indicates that human behaviour strongly influences safety outcomes, particularly the intention to follow safety laws. However, limited studies have explored the psychological and contextual factors behind safety compliance, particularly from a behavioural perspective. This study addresses that gap by extending the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) with a belief elicitation approach to better understand the factors affecting safety compliance intentions among construction workers in Malaysia. The research was conducted in two phases. The first phase involved a qualitative study to identify beliefs, where open-ended surveys were distributed to 50 construction workers. Data saturation was reached after 15 responses, and thematic analysis identified six key belief constructs. These constructs were used to develop an extended TPB model that included attitudinal, normative, and control beliefs alongside traditional TPB components. In the second phase, a structured questionnaire based on the extended model was distributed to 300 construction workers across various sites, with 100 respondents providing feedback. The data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4.0. The results show that the core TPB constructs—attitude (β = 0.45, p < 0.01), subjective norm (β = 0.38, p < 0.01), and perceived behavioural control (β = 0.41, p < 0.01)—significantly affect workers’ intentions to follow safety regulations. Also, external belief-based factors, including perceived relative advantages (β = 0.29, p < 0.05), support from the project management team (β = 0.33, p < 0.01), and facilitating conditions (β = 0.27, p < 0.05), are important predictors. The extended TPB model explained 68% of the variance in safety compliance intention (R² = 0.68), showing strong explanatory power.These findings emphasise the importance of addressing both personal beliefs and workplace conditions to enhance safety behaviour. By incorporating belief elicitation into the TPB framework, this study provides a deeper understanding of the factors that influence compliance. The insights can assist safety managers and policymakers in designing more targeted interventions—those that not only enforce rules but also promote positive attitudes, supportive norms, and a sense of control among workers, ultimately leading to safer construction environments.