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Safety Culture: A Catalyst for Sustainable Development

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  • Sara Hajmohammad
  • Stephan Vachon

Abstract

The present paper investigates the potential benefits of a strong safety culture (SC). Specifically, we build on the organizational support theory to explore the direct and indirect effects of SC on firm performance. Partial least squares method is used to analyze the data collected from a survey among 251 Canadian plants. The results show that SC is associated with several performance indicators all linked to sustainable development (i.e., environmental, financial, and safety performance). Importantly, our findings also suggest that the relationships between SC and environmental/safety performance are mediated by the actual level of implemented environmental/safety practices within plants. We conclude the paper by highlighting the study’s limitations and contributions as well as theoretical and managerial implications. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Hajmohammad & Stephan Vachon, 2014. "Safety Culture: A Catalyst for Sustainable Development," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 123(2), pages 263-281, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:123:y:2014:i:2:p:263-281
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-013-1813-0
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    1. Abdallah Mohammad Ashour & Zuraida Hassan & Jamal Mohammed Esmail Alekam, 2018. "A Conceptual Framework for Upgrading Safety Performance by Influence Safety Training, Management Commitment to Safety and Work Environment: Jordanian Hospitals," International Journal of Business and Social Research, MIR Center for Socio-Economic Research, vol. 8(7), pages 25-35, July.
    2. Bahtiar Mohamad & Adamu Abbas Adamu & Muslim Diekola Akanmu, 2022. "Structural Model for the Antecedents and Consequences of Internal Crisis Communication (ICC) in Malaysia Oil and Gas High Risk Industry," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, March.
    3. Meghan P. Leaver & Tom W. Reader, 2019. "Safety Culture in Financial Trading: An Analysis of Trading Misconduct Investigations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 154(2), pages 461-481, January.
    4. Małgorzata Jasiulewicz-Kaczmarek & Katarzyna Antosz & Ryszard Wyczółkowski & Małgorzata Sławińska, 2022. "Integrated Approach for Safety Culture Factor Evaluation from a Sustainability Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-30, September.
    5. Oscar Rikhotso & Thabiso John Morodi & Daniel Masilu Masekameni, 2022. "The Extent of Occupational Health Hazard Impact on Workers: Documentary Evidence from National Occupational Disease Statistics and Selected South African Companies’ Voluntary Corporate Social Responsi," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-25, August.
    6. Leaver, Meghan & Reader, Tom W., 2017. "Safety culture in financial trading: an analysis of trading misconduct investigations," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 69210, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Abdallah Mohammad Ashour & Zuraida Hassan & Jamal Mohammed Esmail Alekam, 2018. "A Conceptual Framework for Upgrading Safety Performance by Influence Safety Training, Management Commitment to Safety and Work Environment: Jordanian Hospitals," International Journal of Business and Social Research, LAR Center Press, vol. 8(7), pages 25-35, July.
    8. Al-Baraa Abdulrahman Al-Mekhlafi & Ahmad Shahrul Nizam Isha & Nicholas Chileshe & Mohammed Abdulrab & Ahmed Farouk Kineber & Muhammad Ajmal, 2021. "Impact of Safety Culture Implementation on Driving Performance among Oil and Gas Tanker Drivers: A Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-17, August.
    9. Arnaldo Camuffo & Federica Stefano & Chiara Paolino, 2017. "Safety Reloaded: Lean Operations and High Involvement Work Practices for Sustainable Workplaces," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 143(2), pages 245-259, June.
    10. Abbas Mardani & Dalia Streimikiene & Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas & Fausto Cavallaro & Mehrbakhsh Nilashi & Ahmad Jusoh & Habib Zare, 2017. "Application of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to Solve Environmental Sustainability Problems: A Comprehensive Review and Meta-Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-65, October.

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