Impact of safety culture on occupational risk reduction: a comparative analysis

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59169/pentaciencias.v7i4.1616

Keywords:

safety culture; occupational risks; high-risk sectors; psychosocial risks; Latin America

Abstract

This research analyzes the impact of safety culture on the reduction of occupational risks through a comparative study between high-risk sectors (construction and mining) and low-risk sectors (services and technology), also considering the Latin American context. Using a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys, interviews, and documentary review in 20 companies and 400 workers, results showed that the maturity of safety culture has a significant negative correlation with accident rates in high-risk sectors, reducing both injuries and lost workdays. In low-risk sectors, safety culture was reflected in policies on well-being, ergonomics, and stress management, which contributed to fewer sick leaves due to psychosocial causes. Structural barriers in Latin America, such as labor informality, limited investment in safety, and weak state oversight, were also identified; however, organizations with visible leadership, worker participation, and open communication managed to overcome these challenges. Safety culture is not only an essential pillar for preventing accidents and illnesses but also a strategic advantage for building sustainable and resilient workplaces.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Håvold, J. I. (2022). Safety culture, climate and accident causation in the oil and gas industry. Safety Science, 145, 105436.

Heinrich, H. W. (1931). Industrial Accident Prevention. McGraw-Hill.

Hopkins, A. (2021). Learning from high-reliability organisations. CCH Australia.

Hudson, P. (2020). Safety Culture. En S. Dekker (Ed.), The Field Guide to Human Error Investigations (pp. 45-60). CRC Press. Enlace al libro completo.

International Atomic Energy Agency. (1986). Safety Culture. A Report by the International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group. IAEA. Enlace al PDF del reporte de 1991.

Leka, S., & Jain, A. (2021). Health impact of psychosocial hazards at work: an evidence-based approach. World Health Organization.

NIOSH. (2023). Hierarchy of Controls. NIOSH.Enlace a la página oficial de NIOSH sobre el tema.

Organización Internacional del Trabajo. (2022). La seguridad y salud en el trabajo en América Latina. OIT. Enlace directo al PDF del reporte.

Paz, N., et al. (2024). Liderazgo en seguridad como factor de éxito en la reducción de accidentes en la construcción en Ecuador. Revista Gerencia Seg, 5(1), 78-92.

Pérez, F. (2023). The impact of safety culture on employee well-being in the technology sector. J Psychosoc Health, 12(3), 211-225.

Pidgeon, N. F. (1991). The safety culture of organizations. J Health Saf Res Pract, 2(2), 3-11.

Reason, J. (1990). Human error: Cause, prediction, and reduction. Cambridge University Press. DOI: 10.1017/CBO9781139062367

Reason, J. (1997). Managing the risks of organizational accidents. Ashgate. DOI: 10.4324/9781315543543

Reason, J. (2000). Human error: models and management. BMJ, 320(7237):768-770. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.320.7237.768

Zendehdel, F., et al. (2024). A meta-analysis of the relationship between safety culture and accident rates in the mining industry. J Saf Res, 88, 145-156.

Published

2025-09-06

How to Cite

Vaca Jiménez, J. N. (2025). Impact of safety culture on occupational risk reduction: a comparative analysis . Revista Científica Arbitrada Multidisciplinaria PENTACIENCIAS - ISSN 2806-5794., 7(4), 543–553. https://doi.org/10.59169/pentaciencias.v7i4.1616

Issue

Section

Artículos originales