Title: Is job insecurity a risk factor in occupational health and safety?

Authors: Torbjorn Rundmo, Hilde Iversen

Addresses: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Psychology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway. ' Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Psychology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway

Abstract: The main aim of the present study was to examine how job insecurity influences job satisfaction as well as on-the-job risk behaviour. An additional aim was to analyse how risk perception affects the associations between job insecurity, job dissatisfaction and behaviour. The results of the study are based on a self-completion questionnaire survey carried out among employees experiencing organisational change and downsizing in the UK and the Nordic Division of a company manufacturing chemical products (N=254). The company is one of the world|s largest industrial gas suppliers. Job insecurity was significantly associated with job dissatisfaction. The more insecure the employees reported to be, the more job dissatisfaction was also reported. Job dissatisfaction was also related to on-the-job risk behaviour. Employees who were dissatisfied with the working conditions reported on-the-job risk behaviour more frequently compared to those who were satisfied.

Keywords: job insecurity; risk factors; job satisfaction; occupational health and safety; on-the-job behaviour; risk behaviour; risk perception; downsizing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRAM.2007.011729

International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management, 2007 Vol.7 No.2, pp.165 - 179

Published online: 20 Dec 2006 *

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