Changes in safety climate and accidents at two identical manufacturing plants

This study aimed at examining if between-plant differences in safety climate are reflected in corresponding differences in accident rates, and if subsequent changes in safety climate are paralleled by changes in accident rates. The study population was all production workers at two identical manufacturing plants under the same corporation. Safety climate was assessed by questionnaires and safety audits at two points in time with a 12-month interval. At baseline Plant B scored lower than Plant A on five out of six dimensions of safety climate, and had double the rate of self-reported injuries and an almost 30% higher incidence of lost-time-injuries (LTIs). Prior to the present study, Plant A had participated in a comprehensive work environment improvement project. During the study period, knowledge and experiences acquired from this intervention were actively transferred from Plant A to Plant B. At follow-up accident rates were reduced at both plants and the only significant between-plant difference was commitment to the workplace. The study demonstrates a relationship between changes in both questionnaire- and audit-based measures of safety climate and rates of self-reported injuries and LTIs.