Behavior-Based Safety Interventions for Multilingual High-Risk Workforces: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Survey of Construction Safety Practitioners

Abstract: Construction consistently ranks among the most hazardous occupational sectors globally, yet behavior-based safety (BBS) programs have rarely been examined in multilingual workforce settings where language barriers and cultural diversity complicate implementation. This study investigates the design features, reported safety outcomes, and perceived effectiveness of BBS programs deployed in multilingual construction environments through a cross-sectional survey administered to 167 construction safety professionals and site supervisors across multiple organizations. Respondents were recruited via professional safety networks using SurveyMonkey between January and March 2025. The analytical sample comprised 134 participants who reported direct experience with BBS implementation in settings with three or more workforce nationalities. Results indicate that respondents reported a 34.7% reduction in the mean total recordable incident rate (TRIR) following BBS implementation, with observer participation rates averaging 78.4%. Programs incorporating pictographic observation checklists achieved significantly higher participation rates than those relying solely on text-based tools (M = 84.2% vs. M = 67.1%, p

Keywords: behavior-based safety, multilingual workforce, construction safety, safety climate, survey research, cultural adaptation, incident reduction, pictographic tools