Test of a safety culture model from a management perspective

Abstract

Purpose-The importance of developing theoretical models and their empirical validation, capable of explaining safety performance within organizations, has been pointed out by the scientific community. Fernández-Muñiz, Montes-Peón, and Vazquez-Ordáz (2007) proposed a model that integrates dimensions considered as determinants of safety culture to explain safety performance, which was tested with Occupational Health and Safety technicians of Spanish companies. This study aims to verify if that theoretical model obtains empirical support in the Portuguese context, considering the supervisors' perspective. In addition, it also aims to contribute to the adaptation of the measurement instrument, which allowed for the empirical test of the model in the Portuguese context. Design/methodology/approach-The study conducted is quantitative with a cross-sectional study design. In total, 174 supervisors at different levels of supervision, in different Portuguese companies from different activity sectors, participated in the study. Data were gathered through the Portuguese version of the instrument developed by the authors of the model (Fernández-Muñiz et al., 2007). Findings-The results partially confirm the proposed model wherein supervisors play a determinant role in the development of safety culture and thus in the safety performance of organizations. Originality/value-This study addresses one of the demands present in the literature, having empirically tested a model that aims to explain the safety performance of organizations, expanding its application to the management perspective and to a different national context. The results emphasize the role supervisors may play in the development of safer organizations.

The mediator role of the perceived working conditions and safety leadership on the relationship between safety culture and safety performance: A case study in a Portuguese construction company

“…We adapted the Safety Performance Scale, the Working Conditions Scale (Fernández-Muñiz et al, 2017) and the Safety Leadership Scale (Fernández-Muñiz et al, 2014) of to the specific contex of our study. To measure safety culture, we used the Portuguese version of the Safety Culture Scale (Fernández-Muñiz et al, 2007) validated for the Portuguese context by Job et al (2020). The previous four original scales were already administered in the Spanish construction sector, culturally similar to Portuguese ones.…”

“…Safety culture measure validation (SC). Workers' safety culture perception was assessed based on the three-dimensional scale used by Job et al (2020): workers' involvement (4 items) refers to workers' compliance with safety procedures and their participation in improving working conditions; Managers' commitment refers to managers' attitudes regarding risk (4 items) and managers' behaviors regarding risk (5 items). Safety management system refers to the organization's integrated mechanisms comprising policies, strategies, and procedures designed to control occupational risks.…”

Importância Da Cultura De Promoção De Saúde E Segurança No Trabalho Em Tempos De E Pós Covid-19

“…Evangelista et al (2018) explicam a concepção de uma cultura de saúde e de segurança no trabalho como um comportamento coletivo em que a segurança dos trabalhadores seja refletida e colocada entre as possibilidades de destaque, tanto nos modos de proteção coletiva como nos individuais. Assim, as lideranças possuem um papel determinante no desenvolvimento da cultura de segurança e, consequentemente, no desempenho de segurança das organizações (Job et al, 2020). Com as mudanças trazidas pela pandemia do COVID-19, pressupostos da cultura organizacional de muitas organizações sofreram alterações em diferentes aspectos e dimensões, especialmente na cultura de saúde e de segurança.…”