Some factors influence safety behavior. Those factors can be categorized into job, individual, and organizational factors. Under the organizational factors, we have a list of factors such as policies and procedures, management commitment and leadership, levels of supervision, consultation, communication, and training. All these organizational factors influence the safety behavior of a worker. In the article, we will look at each of them and explain how they influence worker safety behavior in an organization.
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Organizational Factors that influence worker safety behavior.
1.Policies and procedures.
In an organization with poorly established policies and procedures, the workers will not know what to do concerning health and safety because the policies and procedures are inadequate. Policies and procedures should be relevant and up to date. The workers should be able to know the available safe work methods and apply them in their work activities. So when this is inadequate or unavailable, workers may behave the way they want, which may expose their lives to danger.
2.Commitment and leadership from management.
If the commitment to safety from the management is inadequate or poorly established, health and safety will suffer in that organization. Such behavior from the management will equally influence workers’ behavior in such an organization—the workers tend to behave in a manner likened to that of the management.
3.Levels of supervision.
Supervision is needed to maintain health and safety in a workplace. Through supervision, unsafe acts and hazards can be easily observed and handled. However, when the supervision is poor, that action alone can influence the worker’s behavior
4.Worker consultation.
If workers are consulted in matters related to health and safety, they will own the safety and health matters and help to work safely in their activities. When workers are not consulted, they will feel that they’re not valued and that their opinions do not matter regarding health and safety. Workers know the hazards in their work activities by virtue of experience, and they can quickly advise the management on how best to manage the hazards. They may feel less concerned about managing safety risks if they’re not involved.
5.Communication.
Proper communication enhances health and safety in the workplace and will improve workers’ safety behavior positively. In an organization with frequent poor communication, knowing how to work safely may not be communicated properly to the workers.
6.Training.
Through training, information and knowledge are given to workers on how best to work safely. Without training, workers may not know much about working safely. This, in turn, has influenced their behavior at work.
7.Peer group pressure.
Pressure from peers and colleagues will encourage unsafe behavior at work. Individuals may likely follow their peers to do a hazardous act when they see that they are doing it.
Onyeka Emma is a QHSE Professional with more than 10 years of experience in occupational health and safety, which spans many industries such as construction, beverage, oil and gas, etc. He has many health and safety certifications, including NEBOSH IGC, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 Lead auditor certificate. A member of IOSH, ISPON, and Nigeria Red Cross Society. He is interested in business, entrepreneurship, Speaking, and motivating people to do better for themselves. He enjoys leisure with a good motivational book.
