Conceptualization of workers’ safe behavioral profile for the management of accident risk at local oil and gas construction sites

Workers’ behavior at sites and its associated accident risk are universally recognized as vital to the sustainability of oil and gas industry globally. Recent oil and gas related accidents occurred in Sarawak and various behavioral studies by academical, and industrial fraternities clearly manifested the urgency and necessity to address industry-wide unsafe behavior to protect safety, health, and environmental wellbeing of local communities. The purpose of this study is to conceptualize the research model for future study to address the seriousness of oil and gas related accidents particularly in Bintulu, Sarawak. To that end, the authors had identified personal attributes of oil and gas construction workers that presumably influence their perception of safety climate and safe behavioral potential while at work through literature review. Theory of planned behavior (TPB) was also adopted to provide initial theoretical explanations as to the possible psychological precursors to perform certain types of unsafe behavior while at work, that might well instigate the occurrence of occupational accidents. Combining the conceptualization of personal attributes, perception of safety climate and safe behavioral potentials; and TPB, a research model was therefore being proposed to provide the conceptual framework for future study, including the development of measure instruments and detailed statistical analysis, into the profile of workers’ safe behavioral potentials at oil and gas construction sites in Bintulu, Sarawak. To enhance the validity and reliability of research model in future study, it is necessary to explore the appropriateness to adopt the theoretical framework of integrative behavior model (IBM) for the prediction of a behavioral performance and change of behavior by taking into account of a person’s skills and abilities required to perform the behavior, environmental constraints stopping such behavioral performance, and the intention to perform such behavior