Measuring and Comparing the Spatial Ability of Heavy Construction Operators and Non-Operators in the Construction Industry

Abstract

Heavy Construction equipment, such as excavators, scrapers, and dump trucks, is often a necessary component in many construction projects influencing the successful completion of a construction project. However, accidents related to heavy construction machinery often have severe consequences for the project. Many fatalities and safety incidents occur in the construction industry because of the unsafe operation of heavy construction equipment, resulting in a major loss in terms of money, time, and personnel. To prevent such accidents due to operating heavy construction equipment, it is necessary to identify and understand the cause of these accidents. Several studies list factors contributing to such accidents including inadequate or poorly maintained equipment, operator error, inadequate training, human behaviors, and site conditions. Heavy construction operators report vision-related issues as the most common cause of accidents, which may relate to operators’ ability to perceive their spatial setting. Despite extensive studies on equipment-related accidents, the potential impact of spatial perception and spatial ability on heavy equipment operators remains unexplored. The main goal of this research is to examine whether there are statistically significant variations in spatial ability of heavy equipment operators and general construction workers with no equipment operation experience. Through comparing and measuring their spatial ability, we want to understand if heavy equipment operators possess a higher spatial ability and if certain spatial ability dimensions may be more pronounced among them. We measured the spatial visualization and spatial orientation dimensions of the spatial ability that are more closely related to heavy equipment operation. These dimensions are measured using the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Visualization of Rotations (PSVT: R), and the Perspective Taking Ability (PTA) test. The results of the study indicate that heavy equipment operators have significantly better performance in certain areas of spatial ability compared to generic construction workers with no equipment operation experience. The Chi-square test revealed significant differences in responses to 33% of the PSVT: R questions and 50% of the PTA questions. Operators achieved an average accuracy rate of 43% in the PSVT: R test and 40% in the PTA test, compared to 24% and 21%, respectively, for the general construction workers. This implies that heavy equipment operators are generally more accurate in tests related to spatial abilities. Spatial ability tended to improve with increasing experience among heavy construction operators and generic workers, reaching a peak at a certain point. However, there is a noticeable decrease in spatial ability among operators who have accumulated more than 15 years of experience, as well as among generic workers with over 10 years of experience. This finding emphasizes the potential influence of age on spatial ability. It is crucial to recognize the need for ongoing training in spatial ability, not just during the early stages of their careers but also throughout their professional journey, particularly as they age. This emphasis on training should be given special consideration for older operators and workers with substantial experience to ensure the preservation or even improvement of their spatial ability levels, which may potentially contribute to improving safety performance in the construction industry.