How Illegitimate Tasks Affect the Unsafe Behavior of Construction Workers on Site?

In order to investigate the mechanism of illegitimate tasks on construction workers’ unsafe behavior and to reduce the occurrence of safety accidents in the construction industry, this study develops a theoretical model based on Cognitive-Affective Personality System theory with emotional exhaustion and group identification as mediating variables. 213 frontline construction workers were selected as respondents to conduct this study on safety management practices. The research findings reveal that illegitimate tasks have a beneficial influence on construction workers’ unsafe behaviors, and that emotional exhaustion and group identification mediate the link between illegitimate tasks and construction workers’ unsafe behaviors. The research findings shed light on the mediation mechanism between illegitimate tasks and unsafe behaviors, further researching into the underlying causes of construction workers’ unsafe behavior, and provide references for project managers to prevent and control the unsafe behaviors of construction workers successfully.