Title: Core elements of safety culture and safety performance: literature review and exploratory results

Authors: Beatriz Fernandez-Muniz, Jose Manuel Montes-Peon, Camilo Jose Vazquez-Ordas

Addresses: Facultad de Ciencias Economicas y Empresariales, Departamento de Administracion de Empresas, University of Oviedo, Avda. del Cristo, s/n, 33071, Oviedo, Spain. ' Facultad de Ciencias Economicas y Empresariales, Departamento de Administracion de Empresas, University of Oviedo, Avda. del Cristo, s/n, 33071, Oviedo, Spain. ' Facultad de Ciencias Economicas y Empresariales, Departamento de Administracion de Empresas, University of Oviedo, Avda. del Cristo, s/n, 33071, Oviedo, Spain

Abstract: A review of the extant safety culture literature is undertaken in order to identify and define the core elements of this concept, mainly the safety climate and the safety management system implemented. Subsequently, we carry out an empirical analysis of Spanish firms to test the relation between the dimensions identified and safety performance. The paper also highlights the key role of managers| commitment and leadership in the promotion of a safety culture. This work is expected to contribute to the literature by reducing the conceptual confusion, complexity and inconsistencies observed in this research field.

Keywords: safety culture; safety climate; safety management systems; management commitment; safety performance; literature review; Spain; leadership.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSS.2009.022817

International Journal of Society Systems Science, 2009 Vol.1 No.3, pp.227 - 259

Published online: 27 Jan 2009 *

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