Investigating factors that influence individual safety behavior at work

Introduction: A qualitative study was conducted to investigate the factors that influence individual safety behavior at work. Method: Semistructured interviews were conducted with participants from a variety of occupations. Results: The analysis revealed several organizational and social factors that explain why individuals engage in unsafe work practices. Conclusions: The influence of organizational/social factors on safety behavior were discussed. The results suggest that important organizational factors, in addition to job design and engineering systems, may be overlooked when identifying the causes of workplace accidents. Such factors include early socialization, and the need to portray a positive image. Impact on Industty: The implications for management and industry are discussed. (C) 2004 National Safety Council and Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.