Session Summary

Session Number:227
Session ID:S179
Session Title:Safety as a core management goal: Integrated approaches to improving work safety
Short Title:Work Safety Improvement
Session Type:Division Joint Symposium
Hotel:Hyatt East
Floor:LL2
Room:GndBall B
Time:Monday, August 09, 1999 4:10 PM - 5:30 PM

Sponsors

HR  (Lynn Shore)mgtlms@langate.gsu.edu (404) 651-3038 
OB  (Robert Liden)bobliden@uic.edu (312) 996-4481 

General People

Chair Parker, Sharon K. U. of Sheffield s.parker@sheffield.ac.uk + 44 114 222 3290 
Chair Griffin, Mark A. Queensland U. of Technology m.griffin@qut.edu.au 61-7-3864-4264 
Discussant Hofmann, David A. Texas A&M U. dhofmann@tamu.edu (409) 845-3133 

Submissions

High performance safety systems: Management practices for achieving optimal safety performance 
Presenter Barling, Julian  Queen's U. jbarling@business.queensu.ca 613-533-2477 
Presenter Zacharatos, Anthea  Queen's U. 3az4@qlink.queensu.California 613-533-2477 
Defining and predicting generic safety performance: An examination of performance dimensionality and the role of training histories. 
Presenter Burke, Michael J. Tulane U. mburke@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu 504-862-3328 
Presenter Sarpy, Sue Ann Tulane U. ssarpy@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu 504-585-7180 
Presenter Tesluk, Paul E. Tulane U. ptesluk@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu 504-862-3325 
A commitment oriented approach to promoting safe working: Evidence from a longitudinal study 
Presenter Parker, Sharon K. U. of Sheffield s.parker@sheffield.ac.uk + 44 114 222 3290 
Presenter Axtell, Carolyn M. U. of Sheffield c.m.axtell@sheffield.ac.uk 44-114-222-3267 
Presenter Turner, Nick  U. of Sheffield nick.turner@sheffield.ac.uk 44-114-222-3256 
Safety climate, safety behavior, and work place accidents. 
Presenter Griffin, Mark A. Queensland U. of Technology m.griffin@qut.edu.au 61-7-3864-4264 
Presenter Neal, Andrew  U. of Queensland andrew@psy.uq.edu.au 61-7-3365-6372 
Presenter Hart, Peter M. U. of Melbourne, Australia srchart@ozemail.com.au 61-7-9344-6353 

Abstract

Occupational safety is an important, but neglected, topic in mainstream management research. The papers in this symposium extend our understanding of the psychological mechanisms by which organizational-level factors can enhance employee safety. The first paper presents a broad theoretical model that explains how organizational factors enhance safe working. The remaining papers investigate and elaborate key elements of this model. The next paper provides a more detailed analysis of the meaning of safety performance. The third paper shows that various organizational factors (such as enriched work design) are associated with greater organizational commitment and a more positive safety climate which in turn promotes safer working. The final paper draws on theories of organizational climate and work performance, tests links between the work context, individual behaviors, and safety outcomes. All of the papers emphasize organizational-level antecedents of safe working, and each seeks to investigate the psychological mechanisms by which these organizational factors affect safety-related behaviors. The clear practical implication of the set of papers is that managing safety is a core management activity similar to managing other aspects of human performance. Organizations can design work environments that promote safe working and minimize accidents.