Research on the Impact of Managers' Safety Perception on Construction Workers' Safety Behaviors

The construction industry is replete with significant safety risks, underscoring the necessity to comprehend the factors that shape workers' safety behaviors for efficacious accident prevention. This study aims to investigate the impact of managers' safety perception (MSP) on construction workers' safety behaviors (WSBs), while also exploring the mediating roles of workers' safety awareness (WSA) and workers' safety competency (WSC). Utilizing a structural equation model (SEM), data were collected from 248 construction workers through a validated questionnaire. The findings indicate that MSP has a direct influence on WSBs (mean effect size = 0.065, p < 0.01) and an indirect effect on WSBs through enhanced WSA (effect size = 0.386, p < 0.01) and WSC (effect size = 0.392, p < 0.01). This research makes a contribution to the existing literature in several ways. First, it introduces a new measurement scale for MSP. Second, it highlights the direct and indirect effects on WSBs. Third, it emphasizes the importance of fostering safety awareness and competency among workers. In addition, the study offers practical implications for construction managers seeking to improve safety outcomes on-site.