Effect of Risk Attitude on the Safety Culture of Manufacturing Firms in Lagos State
Keywords:
Behavioral Compliance, Risk Attitude, Risk Aversion, Safety Culture, Workplace SafetyAbstract
This study explored how employees' risk attitudes influence the safety culture within selected manufacturing firms in Lagos State, Nigeria. The investigation was motivated by the persistent occurrence of workplace accidents, which continue despite the existence of formal safety policies, suggesting disconnect between policy and practice, possibly driven by individual behavioral tendencies related to risk. To address this, the study employed a quantitative research design, gathering data from 312 employees across various firms through a structured questionnaire. The analysis involved inferential statistical techniques, including Pearson correlation and multiple regression, to examine the effect of risk attitude on safety culture. Findings showed a strong positive and statistically significant correlation between risk attitude and safety culture. Further regression analysis confirmed that risk attitude is a significant predictor of safety culture. Specifically, employees who exhibited a risk-averse disposition were more likely to comply with safety standards compared to their risk-tolerant counterparts. The study concludes that while safety structures and policies are necessary, they are not sufficient. Employee behavior, particularly shaped by individual risk attitudes, plays a crucial role in shaping the overall safety culture. As such, manufacturing firms must move beyond structural compliance to embrace behavioral management strategies. It is recommended that management of manufacturing firms integrate psychological risk profiling into their safety training programs and empower safety managers to implement proactive behavioral interventions. These measures can help bridge the gap between policy and practice, ultimately reducing workplace accidents and fostering a stronger safety culture.
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