Relationship Between National Culture Dimensions and Safety Climate in Construction Companies of Abu Dhabi

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between national culture dimensions and safety climate in the construction industry of Abu Dhabi, particularly among Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani workers who constitute almost half of the total migrant workforce. Methods: The study utilized a stratified purposive sampling method to survey workers in selected construction companies. The questionnaire used for data collection was adapted from the Value survey model (VSM) and Nordic safety climate questionnaire (NOSACQ) and was translated into Bengali, Hindi, and Urdu. Results: The results were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The study found that the overall safety climate in the construction companies was poor (Mean=2.36, SD=0.40), with no significant difference in safety climate perception among different nationalities (F-value (0.858), (p = 0.427). The comparison of national culture dimensions between different nationalities was found on individualism F (2,125) = 5.929, p=.003, masculinity F (2,125) = 5.113, p=.007, Long term orientation F (2,125) = 3.116, p=.048, and indulgence vs restraint F (2,125) = 3.526, p=.032 dimensions. Furthermore, the relationship between safety climate and power distance was 0.381 (p = 0.01), between safety climate and long-term orientation was 0.344 (p = 0.01), between safety climate and individualism was 0.196 (p < 0.05), between safety climate and indulgence vs restraint was 0.068 (p = 0.01), between safety climate and uncertainty avoidance was -0.099 (p = 0.01), and between safety climate and masculinity was 0.163 (p = 0.066). Conclusion: All worker’s perception about safety climate was found to be poor. However, significant differences were observed in national culture dimensions, including individualism, masculinity, long-term orientation, and indulgence vs restraint, among Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani workers. The study also revealed a positive relationship between power distance, long-term orientation, and individualism dimensions and safety climate. In contrast, indulgence, masculinity, and uncertainty avoidance had no significant impact on safety climate.