Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
587974 Journal of Safety Research 2008 8 Pages PDF
Abstract

IntroductionThis paper discusses an organizational change intervention program targeting safety behaviors and addresses important considerations concerning the planning of organizational change. Using layout of the plant as a proxy for ease of daily leader-member interaction, the effect of workers' visibility on the effectiveness of supervisory-based safety (SBS) interventions is examined. Through a reinforcement-learning framework, it is suggested that visibility can affect supervisors' incentive to interact with subordinates regarding safety-related issues.MethodData were collected during SBS intervention studies in five manufacturing companies.ResultsResults suggest a reinforcement cycle model whereby increased visibility generates more frequent exchanges between supervisors and employees, resulting in improved safety behavior among employees. In turn, employees' safer behavior reinforces continued supervisory safety-related interaction.Conclusion and impact on industryVisibility is an important moderator in supervisory based safety interventions, and can serve to increase workplace safety. Implications of these findings for safety are discussed.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemical Engineering Chemical Health and Safety
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