Leadership Approach in Occupational Safety: Taiwan Sample

Abstract

Having an occupational health and safety management system does not completely guarantee the establishment of a safe working environment and reduction of occupational accidents. In addition to the management system, there is a need for leadership in occupational safety to carry out the operations and ensure the continuity of occupational health and safety activities. The conceptualization of occupational safety leadership plays an important role in the explanation as to how to implement occupational health and safety management system and improve organizational safety performance. In this regard, contemporary leadership theories introduced three approaches. These theories that contributed to the development of occupational safety leadership are as follows: "Transformational Leadership Theory", "Transactional Leadership Theory" and "Delegative Leadership Style" (Laissez-Faire). In addition, the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) was formed to define leadership behaviors.In this study, Theory of occupational safety leadership developed in the Laboratory of Taiwan University was evaluated, the distinctive characteristics of the theory were determined, and the applicability of such characteristics in Turkey were examined by conducting a literature review. The applicability of occupational leadership theory in Turkey was negotiated by evaluating the outcomes.