A group-level model of safety climate: testing the effect of group climate on microaccidents in manufacturing jobs

J Appl Psychol. 2000 Aug;85(4):587-96. doi: 10.1037/0021-9010.85.4.587.

Abstract

This article presents and tests a group-level model of safety climate to supplement the available organization-level model. Climate perceptions in this case are related to supervisory safety practices rather than to company policies and procedures. The study included 53 work groups in a single manufacturing company. Safety climate perceptions, measured with a newly developed scale, revealed both within-group homogeneity and between-groups variation. Predictive validity was measured with a new outcome measure, microaccidents, that refers to behavior-dependent on-the-job minor injuries requiring medical attention. Climate perceptions significantly predicted microaccident records during the 5-month recording period that followed climate measurement, when the effects of group- and individual-level risk factors were controlled. The study establishes an empirical link between safety climate perceptions and objective injury data.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Occupational*
  • Adult
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Random Allocation
  • Safety*
  • Social Perception*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Work*