Effectiveness of alarm sounds in preventing operator habituation to auditory warnings in construction equipment

Abstract

A proximity auditory warning (AW) system has been developed to mitigate accidents involving construction equipment blind spots. However, frequent AW sounds can lead to habituation among construction equipment operators, potentially reducing the system's effectiveness. This paper assessed the effectiveness of AW sounds in mitigating habituation. Twenty-one participants underwent a driving simulation, with reaction time and skin conductance level used as indicators of habituation. Participants' responses to the conventional probe-tone sound were compared with three proposed AW sounds: an auditory icon resembling a threat or dangerous situation, a self-owned name (SON) addressing the participant's name, and a combination of both. SON is recommended as a viable alternative for effective alarm sound. By investigating alarm sounds that enhance operators' responsiveness to obstacles in blind spots, particularly in environments where frequent alarms are unavoidable, this paper contributes to reducing struck-by accidents involving construction equipment.