Factors contributing towards establishing a positive safety culture in manufacturing sector

Abstract

A combination of large scale disasters and hazards has encouraged high risk industries to reduce the potential workplace incidents and accidents with routine tasks and to improve llJorkplace safery. This idea encourages the promotion of a strong safery culture which has attracted much attention across a broad spectrum of industries such as manufacturing, shipping, nuclear, airports, mining and construction where manufactun·ng sector has one of the highest and continued incidence of fatal incidents, major irijury, and reportable 'over 3-dqy' irijun·es and high overall numbers. In addition, the manufacturing sector accounts for the second largest number of major irijuries when compare to the services. Therefore, promoting a positive safery culture in manufacturing sector creates an atmosphere in which employees are aware of the risk in their Jvorkplace, continuallY on guard against them, and avoid taking af!JIunsafe actions. Establishing a positive safery culture is affected by maf!JIfactors such as safery management systems occupied including reporting procedures, communication and feedback systems, auditing processes, attitudes and behaviours, work environment, management commitment, emplqyee involvement and employeepeifOrmance including training and development, incentives, reward systems etc. Thus, understanding such aspects is crucial to create and nurtun·ng a safery culture that suits the organization and the individuals within it. This paper, therefore, aims to investigatefactors which contribute towards establishing a positive safery culture in manufactun·ng sector.