“Safe Work, Strong Performance”: Unveiling the Nexus Between Occupational Health and Safety, and Job Performance in Turkish Social Workers

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ABSTRACT This study aims to examine the relationship between occupational health and safety and job performance of social workers. A total of 388 Turkish social workers participated in this online study. The sociodemographic questionnaire, Occupational Health and Safety Practices Performance Evaluation Scale (OHS-PES), and Job Performance Scale (JPS) were used to collect data. 74.7% of the participants were female, 70.8% had a bachelor’s degree, and 72.9% were employed in the public sector. 41.9% of participants received basic occupational health and safety training, 17.1% basic disease prevention, 25.8% first aid, 37% basic disaster and emergency, and 30.5% accident prevention. The mean OHS-PES score was 70.90 ± 18.05, and the JPS score was 16.42 ± 2.22. The OHS-PES and JPS were positively correlated, r = .177, p < .001. All sub-dimensions of the OHS-PES showed positive and statistically significant correlations with job performance. Organizations should prioritize targeted interventions to improve workplace safety and potentially enhance the overall job performance of social workers, including comprehensive trainings and psychosocial risk mitigation strategies.