Psychological factors causing nonadherence to safety regulations in Israel’s stone and marble fabrication industry: Unveiling the source of worker noncompliance

Figures & data

Table 1. Examples of initial questions included in the semi-structured interview

	Type of question	Examples of questions
1	Perceived risk	Do you think your job is hazardous?
		Can you characterize the risks?
		Which factors increase risk?
		Which factors reduce risk?
2	Perceived degree of danger of the occupation	How hazardous is your job?
		How does the illness caused by breathing dust while you work compare to other illnesses?
		Can you quantify the degree of dangerousness on a scale?
3	Perceived advantage of working in a protected environment	What are the benefits of observing safety measures in the short and long term in your opinion?
4	Suitability of safety measures	What do you use to reduce risk?
		What is easy to use and what is less easy to use?
		Do you feel competent in using these measures?
		Are they comfortable to use?
5	Exposure to a tempting stimulus	When is it not tempting to use safety measures?
		What inner dialog do you have before using or not using safety measures?
6	Cover questions	What haven’t we asked you about risks?
		What haven’t we asked about risk awareness?
		What haven’t we asked you about the severity of your illness?
		What haven’t we asked you about coping strategies?
7	Open question	Tell us something that you think can sum up our conversation today and that is related to the issues discussed

Table 2. Worker statements about the perceived risk of their job

Dangerousness of the job	Number of statements (n = 25)	Examples of statements given in response to the question: “Does your job involve risks or illnesses and to what degree are these illnesses dangerous in your opinion?”
Very dangerous lung disease	23	(A) “Everyone who works in this industry contracts something in his lungs, pulmonary cancer or illnesses that cause suffocation” (B) Everyone knows that people contract that illness… with the long name… pulmonary cancer” (C) “I know lots of people who contracted silicosis and are dependent on respirators or on line for lung transplants”
Similar to the dangers of any other job	2	(A) “Everyone in this job is affected by something; there are lots of absences due to injuries from tools, cuts from marble edges, and others” (B) “I don’t think that working with marble is more dangerous than working in construction or as a crane operator or working in a factory. Every place is dangerous, this is no more or less dangerous than other places”

Table 3. Worker statements on their sources of knowledge about the illness

Sources of knowledge about the illness	Number of statements (n = 25)	Examples of statements given in answer to the question: “Where did you hear about the illnesses associated with your job and their hazard level?”
Personal experience	2	(A) “I worked with stone for 30 years. I have silicosis from the dust of the stone slabs. I underwent tests at the hospital and the pulmonologist told me that it is because of those slabs”
A friend or colleague	9	(A) “I have a friend who had a lung transplantation. Every worker here knows someone who has a lung disease or who is waiting for transplantation”
Knowledge from a superior	3	(A) “We took a safety monitors course and we learned that cutting stone causes grave lung diseases”
Media sources	11	(A) “I saw a television program that referred to it”

Table 4. Worker statements about the locus of control over the illness

Locus of control	Number of statements (n = 25)	Examples of statements given in response to the question: “In your estimate, who is responsible for correct handling of dust damages in your job?”
Internal	1	(A) “Clearly, I too have to make sure to wear a mask, clean my clothes, and operate the suction machines. I can’t blame everyone but myself”
External	24	(A) “Before synthetic stone slabs were manufactured there were no such grave illnesses” (B) “The manufacturer is clearly to blame” (C) “Today they manufacture dangerous stone to which poisonous glue is added”

Table 5. Worker statements that reflect emotional responses concerning the locus of responsibility

Emotional response	Number of statements (n = 25)	Examples of statements given in response to the questions:
		“What are your feelings about the work procedures?”
		“What do you feel about the illnesses related to your job?”
Anger	13	(A) “They can’t hide something like that… They should have found out what the slabs were made of and warned us. I will never forgive them”
Shame	3	(A) “I can’t believe that I was so stupid and that I didn’t look out for myself” (B) “Every child knows that at work you wear a mask and that dust is not healthy. Regular dust is not healthy either”
Guilt	2	(A) “Sometimes I feel bad and angry at myself for not wearing a mask or boots” (B) “Everyone here is to blame. We don’t take care of our health and one day we will pay for it”
Blame	7	(A) “Those accountable should be found and punished. I don’t care who it is—the government, my boss, the manufacturer—but they must pay” (B) “I am a simple laborer. I don’t know what is dangerous and what isn’t, they should look out for me”

Table 6. Statements that contradict the main message of taking safety precautions and following the procedures (personality factors)

Number of statements (n = 25)	Examples of statements that contradict the main message of taking safety precautions and following the procedures
23	“I think it is important to use a mask but I can’t use both a mask and earphones against noise, so when I put on earphones I make do without the mask”
	“Dust is obviously a dangerous and hazardous material, but for a half hour’s job or a small polish I won’t put on a mask”
	“No one will tell you that a mask is not important, but do you see anyone putting on a mask in this heat?”
	“Who has time for periodical tests? I don’t believe in doctors”
	“We have all kinds of ways of protecting ourselves from the dangerous dust even without a mask” (a wet scarf, keeping the floor wet, airing out the hall, drinking lots of water)”
	“It is true that a mask is important and cleaning your clothes from the dust is important, but if I work with water I don’t really think you need that”
	“Sometimes the boss comes in and everyone puts on a mask. I put one on too although I don’t believe that the mask is capable of protecting me”

Table 7. Summary of themes justifying noncompliance with safety instructions (defense mechanisms)

Theme	Explanation of the theme	No. of statements (n = 25)	Examples
Image of the worker as a professional	The worker’s behavior and self-image are not compatible with following safety instructions	17	“Only nerds wear a mask”
			“Listen, men and professionals know how to take care of themselves”
			“What is it with you—do you think I’ll put on a mask every time I have to cut stone for countertops?”
Fatalism and ascribing responsibility to God or to fate	Minimizing and denying the danger	18	“I’ll die when my time comes”
			“I can’t worry about everything—people die in accidents but no one stops travelling”
Rebelliousness	The worker is concerned that his freedom will be reduced or his actions restricted	9	“My manager has never even touched a saw. He can’t tell me what to do”
			“I know best how to protect myself. I don’t need someone in a suit teaching me my job”
Distrust of the procedure or the safety tool	The worker feels that the procedure or the protective means provided are inefficient	9	“Do you think I haven’t known people who wore masks and were careful but still died young?!”
			“These masks don’t help. They are useless”
A burden	The worker feels that the protective means restrict his ability to work	17	“Listen, the mask makes it harder for me to work”
			“If I were to put on a mask when I work and do everything the manager asks me to, I’d be here every day until 11 pm”
			“On a hot day you don’t wear a mask. Period”
Minimization	Minimizing the danger	8	“I don’t believe that people really die from a little dust”
	Minimizing the relevance of the danger for the respondent		“Forget about it, it only happens to those who are not careful”
Intellectualization and rationalization	Providing a seemingly logical or scientific explanation to justify pathological behavior	5	“If I put on a mask I work longer with the dust so I’d rather have less time with no mask because then I can get much more done at a faster pace”
Procrastination	Accepting the risk but putting off compliance with the regulation for one reason or another	5	“I think you’re right, but I have a big urgent project to complete now and then I’ll start making more of an effort”
			“I keep on saying that I’ll begin tomorrow but then when the workload gets heavy I forget”
Anger and aggressiveness	The worker takes “revenge” on his employer by not complying	2	“First he should pay me on time and then I’ll start wearing a mask”