Susanna Larsson, Anders Pousette, Marianne Törner

3RD International Conference

WORKINGONSAFETY12-15 September

2006

Psychological Climate and Safety in the Construction

Industry – Mediated Influence on Safety Behaviour

Aim

•Examining mechanisms by which the psychological climate (PC) may influence self-reported safety behaviour (SB)

Mediated relationsships

PCSB

???

?

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Psychological climateIndividual perceptions of the work environmentencompass the psychological work characteristics:

• Job/Role role clarity, work control, information access, possibilities for work development

• Leadershipquality of planning, solving conflicts, social support, feedback

• Workgroup social support, sense of community, feedback

(Jones and James, 1979)

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Data •Cross-sectional questionnaire data

- assembled in a study of safety in Swedish construction industry 2004

- questionnaire comprised dimensions of psychological climate(8), individual attitudes(4) and safety behaviour(3)

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Sample

• Non-managerial construction workers (N=189) -mean age 45.3- mean job tenure 23.4- 1/3 at least high school education- 100% male

• Response rate 85%

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•Structural Equation Modelling (SEM)

Statistical Analysis

2. Comparison between different hypothesised models

-which model is the best representation of the empirical data?

Hypothesis testing:

1. Is the hypothesised model a good representation of the empirical data ?

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Mechanisms

Safety knowledge

Safety motivation

Workplace commitmen

t

Job satisfaction

Psychological climate

Structural Interactive Personal safety behaviour

(Parker et al., 2003; Neal et al., 2000)

(Parker et al., 2003); Neal et al., 2000; Pousette et al., 2004)

Four hypothetical models: The models A and B, C and D

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2. Comparisons between the four hypothesised models (- difference test, AIC)

3. Significant regression parameters

tested in competition (C.R.>1.96; p.<.05)

Non-significant regression parameters

were removed – parsimonius model

Analysis

Three steps:

1. Assessment of fit between each of the four hypothesised models and empirical data (, RMSEA, CFI, /df)

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Step 1.

Assessment of fit - all four models acceptable fit

Result

Model A Model B Model C Model D=1717.4 =1706.0 =1700.2 =1707.3

RMSEA=.0067 RMSEA=.0067 RMSEA=.0067 RMSEA=.0067

CFI=.969 CFI=.969 CFI=.970 CFI=.969

/df=1.849 /df=1.842 /df=1.836 /df=1.842

RMSEA: .05-.08 acceptable fit ; <.05=closer fit

CFI>.900 acceptable fit

/df: values between 1-2 acceptable fit

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Step 2.

Comparisons between the models

A, B, C, D

Model A Model B Model C Model D…=11.4=17.210.1

AIC=2019.372 AIC=2013.962 AIC=2008.243 AIC=2013.320

df=929 df=926 df=926 df=927

2 =1706.0 2 =1700.2 2 =1707.3

2(D)=7.1***

**: significantly better than Model A (p<.05)

***significantly better than Model A, D (p<.01)

AIC: lower values better fit

Result10

Result

Safety knowledg

e

Safety motivatio

n

Workplace commitme

nt

Job satisfactio

n

Psychological climate

Model C the best representation of empirical data

Structural safety

behaviour

Interactive

safety behaviour

Personalsafety

behaviour

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Step 3.

Significant regression parameters from the models B and D, introduced in model C

Non-significant parameters removed one by one

Result12

Result

Final model =1700.4

RMSEA=.066

CFI=.970

AIC=1998.448

/df=1.826

Work site commitme

nt

Job satisfactio

n

Safety motivation

Safety knowledge

Psychological climate

Structural safety

behaviour

Interactive safety behaviou

r

Personal safety

behaviour

Illustrations of significant paths (p<.05)

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Discussion•The psychological climate related to safety behaviour both directly and indirectly

-an important area for safety at work•Testing four possible mediators in competition clear indication that:

- safety knowledge and safety motivation key mediators explaining how the influence between the psychological climate and safety behaviour may occur

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In a favourable psychological climate the individual:

-acquires better knowledge on safety

-becomes more motivated to behave safely

Discussion15

Discussion

•Fostering a favourable psychological climate - within the management scope

•Changing workers safety behaviour could be achieved through improvning managerial behaviour

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Discussion

Different mechanisms explaining the three aspects of safety behaviour:

•Personal safety behaviour…using safety equipment, employing safety rules

- safety motivation

- safety knowledge

•Interactive safety behaviour…raise safety issues in daily work, prevent co-workers and managements hazardous behaviour, provide suggestions for safety improvment

- safety motivation

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•Structural safety behaviour:…participation in safety inspections, safety analyses, risk assessment, safety campaigns

- direct influence from the psychological climate

- none of the four hypothesised mediators at work

due to work role/assignment?

Discussion18

-a supportive psychological climate important

Conclusions•Psychological climate, safety motivation and safety knowledge

-important areas for improving safety at work- safety knowledge and safety motivation key mediators explaining the influence between the psychological climate and safety behaviour

- different mechanisms at work behind different aspects of safety behaviour

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