An examination of the relationship amongst profiles of perceived organizational values, safety climate and safety outcomes

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to understand how different patterns of perceived organizational values are related to safety. We surveyed individuals working in high risk industries, assessing perceptions of organizational values, psychological safety climate and safety incidents. Modal Profile Analysis (MPA) identified four commonly perceived profiles across the sample. Results from a one-way MANOVA indicated that individuals who perceived that their organization strongly emphasizes either: (a) employee well-being (a human relations profile); or (b) employee well-being in conjunction with goal attainment (a joint human relations–rational goal profile); reported higher levels of safety climate and fewer safety incidents. Individuals who perceived that their organization strongly emphasizes either: (a) formal processes and procedures (an internal process profile); or (b) formal processes and procedures in conjunction with goal attainment (a joint internal process–rational goal profile), reported lower levels of safety climate and more safety incidents. These findings are discussed in terms of their theoretical contribution to the safety climate literature, and in relation to the practical importance that values play in influencing employee perceptions of safety.