1. Susanna Larsson, Anders Pousette, Marianne Törner 3RD International Conference WORKING ON SAFETY 12-15 September 2006 Psychological Climate and Safety in the Construction Industry – Mediated Influence on Safety Behaviour

2. Aim Examining mechanisms by which the psychological climate (PC) may influence self-reported safety behaviour (SB) Mediated relationsships PC SB ? ? ? ? 2

3. Psychological climate Individual perceptions of the work environment encompass the psychological work characteristics: Job/Role role clarity, work control, information access, possibilities for work development Leadership quality of planning, solving conflicts, social support, feedback Workgroup social support, sense of community, feedback (Jones and James, 1979) 3

4. 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) 4

5. 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% 5

6. 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 ? 6

7. Mechanisms Safety knowledge Safety motivation Workplace commitment 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 7

8. 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) 8

9. Step 1. Assessment of fit - all four models acceptable fit Result Model AModel BModel CModel D  =1717.4  =1706.0  =1700.2  =1707.3 RMSEA=.0067RMSEA=.0067 RMSEA=.0067 RMSEA=.0067 CFI=.969CFI=.969CFI=.970CFI=.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 9

10. Step 2. Comparisons between the models A, B, C, D Model AModel BModel CModel D  =11.4  =17.2  10.1  AIC=2019.372 AIC=2013.962 AIC=2008.243 AIC=2013.320 df=929 df=926df=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 Result 10

11. Result Safety knowledge Safety motivation Workplace commitment Job satisfaction Psychological climate Model C the best representation of empirical data Structural safety behaviour Interactive safety behaviour Personal safety behaviour 11

12. Step 3. Significant regression parameters from the models B and D, introduced in model C Non-significant parameters removed one by one Result 12

13. Result Final model  =1700.4 RMSEA=.066 CFI=.970 AIC=1998.448  / df=1.826 Work site commitment Job satisfaction Safety motivation Safety knowledge Psychological climate Structural safety behaviour Interactive safety behaviour Personal safety behaviour Illustrations of significant paths (p<.05) 13

14. 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 14

15. In a favourable psychological climate the individual: - acquires better knowledge on safety - becomes more motivated to behave safely Discussion 15

16. Discussion Fostering a favourable psychological climate - within the management scope Changing workers safety behaviour could be achieved through improvning managerial behaviour 16

17. 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 17

18. 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? Discussion 18 - a supportive psychological climate important

19. 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 19