Impact of stress on injury incidents among construction workers

Abstract

The role of construction workers (CWs), as a group of indispensible, frontline project members, is essential to the success of every construction project. But the job of CW is also recognized as a dangerous occupation. At the same time, because of the physically demanding construction work tasks, crisis-ridden site environments, and the lack of power and control over their work, CWs are 1.7 times more likely to suffer from stress than workers in other industries. Such stress not only affects worker productivity, but also safety at work. Although the relationship between stress and performance has long been validated, studies have rarely investigated that between CW stress and injury rates, which are the ultimate indicator of safety performance. The current study thus aimed to investigate the curvilinear relationships between stress and CW injury incidents. To do so, a questionnaire survey was designed and distributed to CWs in Hong Kong. Three types of stress were identified, including work stress, emotional stress, and physical stress. A structural equation model, developed based on correlation analysis results, indicated that (i) work stress had a U-shaped relationship with the CW injury incidents, (ii) emotional stress also had a U-shaped relationship with the CW injury incidents, and (iii) physical stress had a X∩-shaped relationship with the same. In line with the study results, a number of recommendations are suggested for construction industry stakeholders to minimize injuries incidents among CWs through managing their stress levels appropriately.