Eye-Tracking Experimental Study Investigating the Influence Factors of Construction Safety Hazard Recognition
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 146, Issue 8
Abstract
Construction site accidents can be reduced if hazards leading to accidents are correctly and promptly detected by employees. Proactive safety measures such as safety perception and safety detection capability of employees play an important role in improving the safety performance. This study was initiated by three research questions related to (1) the measurement indicators of employees’ cognitive load in recognizing safety hazards; (2) site condition factors (e.g., brightness) that can affect subjects’ cognitive load; and (3) the quantification of the effects of these site factors on cognitive load. An eye-tracking experimental approach was adopted by recruiting a total of 55 students from construction management or other civil engineering disciplines to visually search hazards in 20 given site scenes. These site scenes were defined by a combination of three different categories, namely distinctiveness of hazards, site brightness, and tidiness. Quantitative measurements of experimental participants’ visual search patterns were obtained from data captured by the eye-tracking apparatus. Based on metrics related to experimental participants’ fixation, visual search track, and attention map, these measurements were computed to evaluate participants’ cognitive load in detecting hazards. Descriptive statistical comparisons analyzed these metrics under predefined categories of site conditions, i.e., distinctness versus obscurity/blurriness, brightness versus darkness, and tidiness versus messiness. The findings revealed that distinct site conditions reduced participants’ time in saccades to search hazards but did not improve the accuracy rate of first fixation; messy sites with disorganized items increased participants’ cognitive load in detecting hazards in terms of all five measurement items (i.e., accuracy rate of first fixation, fixation count, intersection coefficient, fixation duration, and fixation count in the attention center); the effect of increased brightness on-site needs further studies to determine the optimal balance of brightness level and allocation. Recommendations based on the findings were provided to enhance safety education in terms of site hazard distinctiveness, brightness, and housekeeping best practice. This study extended a few prior studies of adopting eye-tracking technology for safety monitoring by evaluating the impacts of site conditions on participants’ cognitive load, which was linked to their hazard detection performance. The study provided insights for evaluating construction employees’ hazard detection capabilities to enhance safety education. Future work is proposed to evaluate employees’ safety hazard detection pattern under dynamic construction scenarios.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Data generated or analyzed during the study are available from the corresponding author by request.
Acknowledgments
This research is supported by MOE (Ministry of Education in China) Project of Humanities and Social Sciences (Grant No. 20YJAZH034), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51408266), the 16th Talent Summit Program of Six Major Fields in Jiangsu Province (Grant No. SZCY-014), and the Foundation of Jiangsu University (Grant No. 14JDG012).
References
Amadieu, F., T. V. Gog, and F. Paas. 2009. “Effects of prior knowledge and concept-map structure on disorientation, cognitive load, and learning.” Learn. Instr. 19 (5): 1–386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2009.02.005.
Anderson, P., X. He, C. Buehler, D. Teney, M. Johnson, S. Gould, and L. Zhang. 2018. “Bottom-up and top-down attention for image captioning and visual question answering.” In Proc., IEEE Conf. on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, 6077–6086. New York: IEEE.
Bertrand, M., and S. Mullainathan. 2001. “Do people mean what they say? Implications for subjective survey data.” Am. Econ. Rev. 91 (2): 67–72. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.91.2.67.
Bhoir, S. A., S. Hasanzadeh, B. Esmaeili, M. D. Dodd, and M. S. Fardhosseini. 2015. “Measuring construction workers attention using eye-tracking technology.” In Proc., Construction Specialty Conf., 8–10. Montreal: Canadian Society for Civil Engineering.
Carrasco, M. 2011. “Visual attention: The past 25 years.” Vision Res. 51 (13): 1484–1525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2011.04.012.
Chen, Q., and R. Jin. 2012. “Safety4Site commitment to enhance jobsite safety management and performance.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 138 (4): 509–519. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000453.
Chen, Q., and R. Jin. 2013. “Multilevel safety culture and climate survey for assessing new safety program.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 139 (7): 805–817. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000659.
Choi, H. H., J. J. G. van Merrienboer, and F. Paas. 2014. “Effects of the physical environment on cognitive load and learning: Towards a new model of cognitive load.” Educ. Psychol. Rev. 26 (2): 225–244. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-014-9262-6.
Choi, H. H., J. J. G. van Merrienboer, F. Paas, Y. Xiong, and Q. Sheng. 2018. “The impacts of the physical environment on cognitive load and learning: Discussion of a cognitive load new model.” [In Chinese.] Open Educ. Res. 24 (1): 54–67. https://doi.org/10.13966/j.cnki.kfjyyj.2018.01.006.
Choudhry, R. M., D. Fang, and S. Mohamed. 2007. “The nature of safety culture: A survey of the state-of-the-art.” Saf. Sci. 45 (10): 993–1012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2006.09.003.
Chun, M. 2003. “Scene perception and memory.” Psychol. Learn. Motivation 42 (3): 79–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-7421(03)01003-X.
CIS RIT (Chemistry and Imaging Science, Rochester Institute of Technology). 2019. “Rods & cones.” Accessed July 13, 2019. https://www.cis.rit.edu/people/faculty/montag/vandplite/pages/chap_9/ch9p1.html.
Connor, C. E., H. E. Egeth, and S. Yantis. 2004. “Visual attention: Bottom-up versus top-down.” Curr. Biol. 14 (19): R850–R852. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2004.09.041.
Cooper, M. D., and R. A. Phillips. 2004. “Exploratory analysis of the safety climate and safety behavior relationship.” J. Saf. Res. 35 (5): 497–512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2004.08.004.
Corbetta, M., and G. Shulman. 2002. “Control of goal-directed and stimulus-driven attention in the brain.” Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 3 (3): 201–215. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn755.
Cox, S., and T. Cox. 1991. “The structure of employee attitudes to safety: A European example.” Work Stress 5 (2): 93–106. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678379108257007.
Cox, S., and R. Flin. 1998. “Safety culture: Philosopher’s stone or man of straw?” Work Stress 12 (3): 189–201. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678379808256861.
Djamasbi, S., M. Siegel, and T. Tullis. 2010. “Generation Y, web design, and eye tracking.” Int. J. Hum. Comput. Stud. 68 (5): 307–323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2009.12.006.
Dzeng, R. J., C. T. Lin, and Y. C. Fang. 2016. “Using eye-tracker to compare search patterns between experienced and novice workers for site hazard identification.” Saf. Sci. 82 (Feb): 56–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2015.08.008.
Endsley, M. R. 1995. “Toward a theory of situation awareness in dynamic systems.” Hum. Factors: J. Hum. Factors Ergon. Soc. 37 (1): 32–64. https://doi.org/10.1518/001872095779049543.
Evalued. 2006. “Questionnaires.” Accessed August 1, 2019. http://www.evalued.bcu.ac.uk/tutorial/4a.htm.
Gangolells, M., M. Casals, N. Forcada, A. Fuertes, and X. Roca. 2013. “Model for enhancing integrated identification, assessment, and operational control of on-site environmental impacts and health and safety risks in construction firms.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 139 (2): 138–147. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000579.
Garrett, J. W., and J. Teizer. 2009. “Human factors analysis classification system relating to human error awareness taxonomy in construction safety.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 135 (8): 754–763. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000034.
Goh, Y. M., and D. K. H. Chua. 2010. “Case-based reasoning approach to construction safety hazard identification: Adaptation and utilization.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 135 (12): 170–178. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000116.
Hallowell, M. R., and J. A. Gambatese. 2010. “Construction safety risk mitigation.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 136 (2): 1316–1323. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000107.
Han, Y., Z. Feng, J. Zhang, R. Jin, and E. Aboagye-Nimo. 2019a. “Employees’ safety perceptions of site hazard and accident scenes.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 145 (1): 04018117. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001590.
Han, Y., R. Jin, H. Wood, and T. Yang. 2019b. “Investigation of demographic factors in construction employees’ safety perceptions.” KSCE J. Civ. Eng. 23 (7): 2815–2828. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-019-2044-4.
Han, Y., Z. Yin, J. Liu, R. Jin, K. Gidado, N. Painting, Y. Yang, and L. Yan. 2019c. “Initiating a safety cognition framework incorporating safety hazard perception.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 145 (12): 04019081. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001718.
Hasanzadeh, S., B. Esmaeili, and M. D. Dodd. 2016. “Measuring construction workers’ real-time situation awareness using mobile eye-tracking.” In Proc., Construction Research Congress. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Jacob, R. J., and K. S. Karn. 2003. “Eye tracking in human-computer interaction and usability research: Ready to deliver the promises.” Mind 2 (3): 4. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-044451020-4/50031-1.
Jeelani, I., A. Albert, R. Azevedo, and E. J. Jaselskis. 2017a. “Development and testing of a personalized hazard-recognition training intervention.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 143 (5): 04016120. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001256.
Jeelani, I., A. Albert, and J. A. Gambatese. 2017b. “Why do construction hazards remain unrecognized at the work interface?” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 143 (5): 04016128. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001274.
Jeelani, I., K. Han, and A. Albert. 2018. “Automating and scaling personalized safety training using eye-tracking data.” Autom. Constr. 93 (Sep): 63–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2018.05.006.
Li, J., H. Li, H. Wang, W. Umer, H. Fu, and X. Xing. 2019. “Evaluating the impact of mental fatigue on construction equipment operators’ ability to detect hazards using wearable eye-tracking technology.” Autom. Constr. 105 (Sep): 102835. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2019.102835.
Li, Q., C. Ji, J. Yuan, and R. Han. 2017. “Developing dimensions and key indicators for the safety climate within China’s construction teams: A questionnaire survey on construction sites in Nanjing.” Saf. Sci. 79 (Mar): 11–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2016.11.006.
Liao, P. C., G. Lei, J. Xue, and D. Fang. 2015. “Influence of person-organizational fit on construction safety climate.” J. Manage. Eng. 31 (4): 4014049. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000257.
Liu, D., and J. Gambatese. 2018. “Student education and training needs for safety in roadway engineering fieldwork.” J. Civ. Eng. Educ. 144 (4): 4018012. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000394.
Marquardt, N., R. Gades, and S. Robelski. 2012. “Implicit social cognition and safety culture.” Hum. Factors Ergon. Manuf. Serv. Ind. 22 (3): 213–234. https://doi.org/10.1002/hfm.20264.
OSHA. 2011. “Outreach training program: Construction focus four training.” Accessed April 19, 2018. http://www.osha.gov/dte/outreach/construction/focus_four/index.html.
Paas, F., A. Renkl, and J. Sweller. 2003. “Cognitive load theory and instructional design: Recent developments.” Educ. Psychol. 38 (1): 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15326985EP3801_1.
Pedro, A., Q. T. Le, and C. S. Park. 2016. “Framework for integrating safety into construction methods education through interactive virtual reality.” J. Civ. Eng. Educ. 142 (2): 4015011. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EI.1943-5541.0000261.
Pinto, Y., A. R. van der Leij, I. G. Sligte, V. A. Lamme, and H. S. Scholte. 2013. “Bottom-up and top-down attention are independent.” J. Vision 13 (3): 16. https://doi.org/10.1167/13.3.16.
Rayner, K. 1998. “Eye movements in reading and information processing: 20 years of research.” Psychol. Bull. 124 (3): 372–422. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.124.3.372.
Schreij, D., C. Owens, and J. Theeuwes. 2008. “Abrupt onsets capture attention independent of top-down control settings.” Attention, Percept. Psychophysics 70 (2): 208–218. https://doi.org/10.3758/PP.70.2.208.
Seo, J., S. Han, S. Lee, and H. Kim. 2015. “Computer vision techniques for construction safety and health monitoring.” Adv. Eng. Inform. 29 (2): 239–251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aei.2015.02.001.
Shi, Y., J. Du, C. R. Ahn, and E. Ragan. 2019. “Impact assessment of reinforced learning methods on construction workers’ fall risk behavior using virtual reality.” Autom. Constr. 104 (Aug): 197–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2019.04.015.
Skibniewski, M. J. 2014. “Information technology applications in construction safety assurance.” J. Civ. Eng. Manage. 20 (6): 778–794. https://doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2014.987693.
Sunindijo, R. Y., and P. X. W. Zou. 2012. “Political skill for developing construction safety climate.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 138 (5): 605–612. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000482.
Sweller, J. 1994. “Cognitive load theory, learning difficulty, and instructional design.” Learn. Instr. 4 (4): 295–312. https://doi.org/10.1016/0959-4752(94)90003-5.
Sweller, J. 1998. “Cognitive load during problem solving: Effects on learning.” Cognitive Sci. 12 (2): 257–285. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15516709cog1202_4.
Taylor, C. 2019. “The difference between descriptive and inferential statistics.” Accessed June 28, 2019. thoughtco.com/differences-in-descriptive-and-inferential-statistics-3126224.
Tobii Pro. 2019. “Tobii Pro T60XL.” Accessed May 27, 2019. https://www.tobiipro.com/product-listing/tobii-pro-t60xl/.
Toole, T. M. 2007. “Design engineers’ responses to safety situations.” J. Civ. Eng. Educ. 133 (2): 126–131. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1052-3928(2007)133:2(126).
Tsai, M. J., H. T. Hou, and M. L. Lai. 2012. “Visual attention for solving multiple-choice science problem: An eye-tracking analysis.” Comput. Educ. 58 (1): 375–385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2011.07.012.
Xu, Q., H. Y. Chong, and P. C. Liao. 2019. “Exploring eye-tracking searching strategies for construction hazard recognition in a laboratory scene.” Saf. Sci. 120 (Dec): 824–832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2019.08.012.
Yarbus, A. L. 1967. “Eye movements during perception of complex objects.” In Eye movements and vision, 171–211. Boston: Springer.
Zuluaga, C. M., and A. Albert. 2018. “Preventing falls: Choosing compatible fall protection supplementary devices (FPSD) for bridge maintenance work using virtual prototyping.” Saf. Sci. 108 (Oct): 238–247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2017.08.006.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 146 • Issue 8 • August 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 23, 2019
Accepted: Mar 9, 2020
Published online: Jun 5, 2020
Published in print: Aug 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Nov 5, 2020
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.