Using Eye-Tracking to Examine the Cognitive Process of Hazard Recognition in Construction VR Scenarios

The construction industry is a high-risk environment with numerous potential hazards, emphasizing the need for effective hazard recognition to prevent accidents and injuries. However, the cognitive processes underlying hazard recognition ability are not well understood. Eye-tracking technology can offer valuable insights into the cognitive process, and this study investigates differences in higher and lower hazard recognition ability using eye-tracking technology in virtual reality scenarios. Participants were instructed to report hazards immediately when identified. Results indicate that individuals with lower hazard recognition ability had longer perception or comprehension times in the case of successful identification. These findings underscore the importance of understanding eye movement data to develop effective hazard recognition training programs to improve workers’ ability to identify and respond to potential hazards at jobsites.