Safety climate, hardiness, and musculoskeletal complaints: A mediated moderation model

• Psychological safety climate was not directly related to WRMSD complaints.
• Psychological safety climate was negatively related to frustration.
• Frustration was positively related to WRMSD complaints.
• Hardiness accentuated the psychological safety climate–frustration relationship.
• Safety climate had an indirect effect on WRMSD complaints via frustration.

This study explores the mechanisms linking the psychosocial characteristics of the workplace with employees' work-related musculoskeletal complaints. Poor safety climate perceptions represent a stressor that may elicit frustration, and subsequently, increase employees' reports of musculoskeletal discomforts. Results from an employee sample supported that when employees' perceived safety was considered a priority, they experienced less frustration and reported fewer work-related upper body musculoskeletal symptoms. Psychological hardiness, a personality trait that is indicative of individuals' resilience and success in managing stressful circumstances, moderated these relationships. Interestingly, employees with high hardiness were more affected by poor safety climate.