Impact of Safety Training on Employee's Perceptions of Organizational Safety Culture

Author

Brooke Reid-GravesFollow

Date of Award

12-2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

School

Leadership

Committee Chair

Heather M. Annulis

Committee Chair School

Leadership

Committee Member 2

H. Quincy Brown

Committee Member 2 School

Leadership

Committee Member 3

John J. Kmiec

Committee Member 3 School

Leadership

Committee Member 4

Dale L. Lunsford

Committee Member 4 School

Leadership

Abstract

Workplace safety and well-being are vital for all workers, regardless of their profession (Young et al., 2022). Studies show that providing employees with training focused on recognizing hazards and implementing safety practices is essential for reducing occupational risks (Namian et al., 2020; Rose & Rae, 2017). Research underscores the importance of fostering a positive organizational safety culture for risk reduction (Berry et al., 2020; Downey, 2019). Understanding the impact of safety training on shaping an organization’s safety culture is key to promoting safe working environments (Mahjoub, 2013).

This study utilized the perspectives of high school staff regarding safety training and organizational safety culture specific to the after-school timeframe. With the conclusion of the regular school day, the campus environment undergoes changes, introducing distinctive risks and hazards not typically encountered during regular school hours. This dynamic setting presents an opportunity for heightened potential risks (Berg, 2019). Previous studies have researched safety during the school day; however, there is limited research into the safety of the after-school timeframe. This quantitative study utilized a correlational and cross-sectional design that allowed the researcher to gather survey data at a single point in time to determine the relationship between safety training and organizational safety culture. The results revealed a positive correlation between the quality of safety training and an organization’s safety culture. The findings indicate that high school employees are dissatisfied with the frequency by which they receive safety training specific to the after-school timeframe, with most indicating they had not received this specific training.

The findings from this research highlight the significance of organizational leaders in prioritizing, developing, and implementing effective safety training initiatives. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of providing employees with ongoing and consistent safety training. Employers instituting robust safety training programs requiring regular employee completion can enhance their organization’s safety culture. A positive safety culture not only fosters excellence in performance and productivity but also diminishes the occurrence of occupational accidents and injuries.

Copyright

Brooke Reid Graves

Recommended Citation

Reid-Graves, Brooke, "Impact of Safety Training on Employee's Perceptions of Organizational Safety Culture" (2024). Dissertations. 2303.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/2303