Factors associated with unsafe work behaviours in an Iranian petrochemical company: perspectives of workers, supervisors, and safety managers

Abstract

Background: The petrochemical industry is hazardous, in part because of the inherently dangerous nature of the work conducted, and incidents frequently result in significant financial and social losses. The most common immediate cause of incidents and injuries in this industry is unsafe worker behaviour. Identifying the factors encouraging unsafe work behaviours is the first step in taking action to discourage them. The aim of this study was to (a) explore workers', supervisors' and safety managers' attitudes and perceptions of safety in a petrochemical company in Iran, and (b) identify the factors that discourage safe work behaviours. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted by applying the steps described by Graneheim and Lundman (2004). Twenty participants were recruited from an Iranian petrochemical company using a multi-stage approach, with initial purposive sampling followed by snowball sampling to enhance recruitment. Individual face-to-face and semistructured interviews were conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of factors acting as barriers to safe behaviour. The interviews were recorded and transcribed in Persian and then translated into English. Conventional content analysis was performed. Results: The main themes emerging from the interviews were: (i) poor direct safety management and supervision; (ii) unsafe workplace conditions; (iii) workers' perceptions, skills and training; and (iv) broader organisational factors. Conclusions: The findings give insights into practical organisational measures that can be implemented by management to promote workers' commitment to safety and engage in safe behaviours in their workplace. Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials: IRCT20170515033981N2. Retrospectively registered 19 June 2018.

Evaluating the Consistency Between Conceptual Frameworks and Factors Influencing the Safe Behavior of Iranian Workers in the Petrochemical Industry: Mixed Methods Study

“…Purposive and snowball sampling approaches were selected because the research team considered the combination of the two was the most practical means to secure a representative sample of the company employees. The research team utilized purposive sampling, also known as judgmental sampling, to recruit particular interview subjects deliberately in order to provide important information and then snowball sampling to seek out further potential interviewees from the social network of the initial respondents [ 43 ]. Both techniques are used to achieve hard-to-reach participants in qualitative research studies [ 45 ].…”

“…These employees were also invited to participate in the study. Before the start of each interview, a member of the safety staff introduced the participant to the first author, who provided clear verbal information about the study [ 43 ].…”

“…A recent study by our research team [ 43 ] identified 4 sets of factors that workers believe discourage safe behaviors in an Iranian petrochemical company: (1) poor direct safety management and supervision, (2) unsafe workplace conditions, (3) workers' perceptions, skills, and training, and (4) broader organizational factors. The first aim of this study was to identify theoretical models proposed to explain and predict safe behavior in the workplace by reviewing relevant research studies published between the years 2000 and 2019.…”

“…The first aim of this study was to identify theoretical models proposed to explain and predict safe behavior in the workplace by reviewing relevant research studies published between the years 2000 and 2019. The second aim was to select the model that best reflects the results of our above-mentioned qualitative study [ 43 ] and other evidences on the factors influencing safe behaviors among petrochemical workers.…”

Integration of Safety Knowledge into Three-Dimensional Model Design and Construction Plan from the Perspective of Project Executors in Petrochemical Industry

“…In general, there are two kinds of disasters in petrochemical industry: the general chemical disasters in factories induced by human factors, equipment factors and environmental factors; the chemical disasters caused by operational failures in manufacturing, e.g., unfamiliarity with the chemical reactions, improper engineering design, incorrect control, and unsuitable operating procedures and training [11].…”