Evaluation of Textile Manufacturing Sector Employees’ Perceptions of Occupational Safety Leadership and Occupational Safety Climate According to Demographic Variables

Abstract

Purpose –  The aim of this study is to examine the effects of demographic characteristics on perception of safety leadership and climate.

Design/methodology/approach –  The research model was created by comparing the safety leadership and climate with 6 demographic variables. Questionnaire method was used to obtain the data. The study was carried out in the textile manufacturing sector which is one of the sectors with the highest number of accidents. Questionnaires were conducted with 495 people in three workplace in Çerkezköy/Tekirdağ and 416 questionnaires were included in the study. As a data collection tool, it was used consisting of 45 items the scale was created by Wu (2005:35) to measure the safety leadership and consisting of 10 items the scale was created by Zohar (2000:591) to measure the safety climate. The analysis of the data was analyzed with the SPSS Statistics 22 program and the results were interpreted.

Findings –  It was found that female employees' on safety climate perception have higher than male employees. As the education level of the employees increased, the perception of safety leadership and climate increased. In addition, top level managers' on perceptions of safety leadership and climate have higher than those of intermediate managers.

Discussion-  According to the research findings, it was seen that some of the demographic variables were effective on safety leadership and climate. It had been interpreted by comparing with the previous similar studies. The study also contributes to the literature because of the limited research done regarding of safety leadership in Turkey.