Safe Culture, Safe Workers: Analyzing the Link Between Safety Management Practices and Operators Safety Performance in a Manufacturing Plant

This study examines the relationship between safety management practices and safety performance among operators at a manufacturing company located at the southern region of Malaysia. The manufacturing industry is one of the highest contributors to occupational accidents and injuries in Malaysia. Therefore, understanding the effectiveness of safety management practices is essential for reducing workplace hazards. This research adopts a quantitative approach, utilizing a structured self-administered questionnaire to collect data from 350 operators. The questionnaire assessed safety management practices that consist of six dimensions (35 items), including management commitment, safety training, safety communication, and safety rules and procedures. Safety performance was measured four dimensions (24 items), focusing on indicators such as safety knowledge, safety motivation, safety compliance and safety participation. The scales used were adapted from Vinodkumar and Bhasi (2010). The findings revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between safety management practices and safety performance underscores the importance of robust safety management practices in fostering a safer workplace. Despite these positive findings, the study acknowledges certain limitations, including the cross-sectional nature of the research and the reliance on self-reported data, which may introduce bias. The paper concludes by recommending that organizations integrate safety management practices more thoroughly into their operational strategies to achieve long-term safety performance improvements.

Safety Management Practices, Safety Performance, Operator.

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