Citation

Wallace JC, Vodanovich SJ. J. Occup. Health Psychol. 2003; 8(4): 316-327.

Affiliation

Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Psychology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0170, USA. CraigWallace@comcast.net

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/1076-8998.8.4.316

PMID

14570526

Abstract

This research investigated the effects of

cognitive failure on workplace safety and accidents over 2 studies. It was

hypothesized that cognitive failure would directly predict safety behavior and

workplace accidents and predict these outcomes over and above conscientiousness.

It was found that cognitive failure uniquely accounted for workplace safety

behavior and accidents. However, it has been suggested by researchers that

certain individual differences might interact to produce differential effects.

Thus, a moderated model was tested examining the interaction of cognitive

failure and conscientiousness. It was found that cognitive failure moderated the

relationship between conscientiousness and accidents and unsafe work behaviors.

Overall, results suggest that cognitive failure plays an important part in

individual safety behavior, especially when conscientiousness is

low.