The Adoption Intentions of Wearable Technology for Construction Safety

Abstract

Wearable technology (WT) is vital for proactive safety management. However, the adoption and use of WTs are very low when it comes to construction safety. This study proposes a hybrid model, combining elements of the technology acceptance model and the theory of planned behaviour model, with the aim of determining the factors predicting the adoption intention of WTs for construction safety. A mixed-method approach was used to test the model, namely the structural equation model (SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The results show that no single predictor can significantly drive the adoption intention of all six WTs, namely smart wearable sensors, smart safety hats, smart safety vests, smart insoles, smart safety glasses, and smart wristbands, except for the uncovered effective combinations based on each WT individually. This research contributes to new insights into the antecedents of the adoption intention of WTs for construction safety, which are also useful for other technologies.