Safety behavior is increasingly becoming a crucial concern in different industries and organizations. While it is important to set the appropriate safety policies and standards, it is crucial to be able to accurately measure and predict the safety behavior that employees will display at work. That way, you can make informed decisions and be proactive, so as to avoid the adverse consequences that unsafe behavior may entail.
The majority of workplace accidents are estimated to be at least partly due to human error
According to research, the most crucial individual difference predictors in relation to workplace accidents and potential accident involvement, are specific individual personality traits. Considering that personality dictates the unique way we make decisions and subsequently the way we behave, it is evident that personality traits can be a useful tool to mitigate the potential risks of unsafe behavior.
How do personality traits relate to the desired safety behavior we want to exhibit?
Using well-established associations between Safety behavior and personality dimensions as conceptualized by the five-factor model of personality, we have concluded on the important determinants of the predisposition of displaying safe/unsafe behavior at work.
What does the Safety Indicator look like?
The Safety Behavior Indicator will be presented on your account like you see on the image below and you will be able to assess whether a candidate exhibits the Safety Behavior scores necessary for ensuring a safe and healthy workplace environment.
Remember that there is no need for the candidates to undertake any additional assessment in order for you to have access to the Safety Behavior Indicator.
Click here for instructions on how to add Indicators to your assessments.
Indicative Roles: Manufacture worker, Machine operator, Engineer, Medical Technician
Safety Behavior Interview Questions: A few interview questions that will be helpful for you during your interview.
Describe a time you made a mistake that led to an injury. How did you deal with it?
How would you react to an unsafe process? What steps would you follow?
How would you react if you see a coworker not using their personal protective equipment?
How would you react if you see a coworker working in an unsafe working condition?
How would you prevent a potential injury from happening?
Describe your thoughts about preventing an incident. Do you believe that all incidents (injuries, near misses, first aids, etc.) can be prevented?
References
Beus, J. M., Dhanani, L. Y., & McCord, M. A. (2015). A meta-analysis of personality and workplace safety: Addressing unanswered questions. Journal of applied psychology, 100(2), 481.
Gao, Y., González, V. A., & Yiu, T. W. (2020). Exploring the relationship between construction workers’ personality traits and safety behavior. Journal of construction engineering and management, 146(3), 04019111.
Postlethwaite, B., Robbins, S., Rickerson, J., & McKinniss, T. (2009). The moderation of conscientiousness by cognitive ability when predicting workplace safety behavior. Personality and Individual Differences, 47(7), 711-716.
Zhang, J., Li, Y., & Wu, C. (2013). The influence of individual and team cognitive ability on operators’ task and safety performance: a multilevel field study in nuclear power plants. PloS one, 8(12), e84528.