Date of Award

5-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Department

Social Sciences

First Reader/Committee Chair

Diaz, Ismael

Abstract

Organizations employing individuals in high-risk or safety-sensitive occupations (e.g., construction workers, commercial drivers, pilots, and oil rig workers) face the challenge of ensuring their employees’ safety and well-being amidst various hazards and dangerous situations. To address this, cultivating a positive safety climate has been identified as a crucial factor in reducing workplace accidents or injuries. However, despite its importance, the link between safety climate and non-safety outcomes remains underexplored in the literature. In response, this study proposed a model based on social exchange theory, which highlights the crucial role of organizational support in explaining the relationship between safety climate and organizational outcomes such as job satisfaction, turnover intentions, and affective commitment. The proposed model predicted that safety climate will positively predict organizational support, which will, in turn, predict organizational outcomes. Notably, the study also investigated the moderating role of job safety relevance in the safety climate – organizational support relationship. An online survey with 275 participants was conducted to test the proposed model, and all analyses were conducted in RStudio. The results demonstrated that organizational support was a mediator in the relationship between safety climate and organizational outcomes and highlighted the moderating role of job safety relevance in this model. The study’s data-driven implications and recommendations for optimal practices have critical implications for organizations that aim to create a supportive and safe work environment for their employees.

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