Journal of Engineering, Project, and Production Management, 2026, 16(8), 2026-0135
Neuro-Inclusive Safety Management in Construction: Practitioner Perceptions of Cognitive and Sensory Diversity
1 Senior
Lecturer, School of Construction Economics and Management, University of
the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, E-mail: lungie.maseko@wits.ac.za
2 Professor, Massey University, New
Zealand, E-mail: J.Rotimi@massey.ac.nz
3 Head, Construction Economics and Management, University of
the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, E-mail: david.root@wits.ac.za
Project Management
Received July 16, 2026, revised September 7, 2026, accepted September 7, 2026
Available online October 5, 2026
Abstract: Construction health and safety management has traditionally prioritized physical hazards through regulatory compliance, engineering controls and behavioral safety approaches. Limited attention has been paid to how cognitive and sensory diversity interact with hazard recognition, safety communication and decision-making. This study examined practices reported by construction health and safety officers and site managers for supporting neurodivergent workers during routine construction operations. An exploratory qualitative survey was conducted with 13 health and safety officers and eight site managers in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Twenty-one of 38 invited practitioners completed five open-ended questions. Reflexive thematic analysis identified five related findings. Cognitive and sensory demands were recognized informally but rarely incorporated into risk assessments. Multimodal and simplified communication was valued but inconsistently applied. Supervisors received limited formal preparation. Workplace adjustments were mainly informal or proposed rather than embedded within safety systems. Evaluation continued to rely on conventional lagging indicators. These findings identify a system-design gap rather than locating risk within neurodivergent workers. The study contributes a construction-specific pathway linking site conditions, neurocognitive variation, safety processes, response practices and perceived outcomes. As the evidence reflects practitioner perceptions rather than verified diagnoses or measured safety outcomes, causal conclusions are not supported. The study recommends integrating cognitive ergonomics, psychosocial risk management, supervisor development and leading indicators into routine construction safety systems to strengthen hazard recognition, worker wellbeing and organizational learning.
Keywords: Cognitive ergonomics; construction health and safety; hazard recognition; neurodiversity; psychosocial risk management.
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Citation: Maseko, L., Rotimi, J. O. B., and Root, D. (2026). Neuro-Inclusive Safety Management in Construction: Practitioner Perceptions of Cognitive and Sensory Diversity. Journal of Engineering, Project, and Production Management, 16(8), 2026-0135.
