Files and links (1)
Published, Version of Record (VoR)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Size matters: How safety climate and downstream outcomes vary by fire department organization type
Injury epidemiology, v 9(1), pp 11-11
23 Mar 2022
PMID: 35321756
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background : Safety climate is an upstream predictor of safety behaviors (e.g., safety compliance), organizational outcomes (e.g., burnout, engagement), and safety outcomes (e.g., injuries). The Fire Service Organizational Culture of Safety (FOCUS) survey, which was psychometrically validated, measures the industry-specific safety climate of the US fire and rescue service. It is expressed by two factors, Management Commitment to Safety and Supervisor Support for Safety.
Methods : The FOCUS beta-test included a random sample of 132 fire departments stratified by Federal Emergency Management Agency region and organization type (career, combination, volunteer). We conducted descriptive analysis with the responses from 8414 firefighters nested within 611 stations in 125 fire departments. We reported descriptive statistics to assess the distribution of all continuous [mean +/- standard deviation (SD)] and categorical variables (counts, percentages) stratified by organization type. Regression analyses were conducted to investigate the associations between safety climate, safety behaviors, organizational outcomes, and safety outcomes stratified by organization type.
Results : The mean age of the analytic sample was 40.2 years, and the mean years of experience was 16.1 years. This sample included 53.6% career, 27.2% combination (career and volunteer), and 19.2% volunteer fire departments. The mean Management Commitment score was 71.4 (SD = +/- 10.4), and the mean Supervisor Support score was 81.7 (+/- 5.2). The mean Management Commitment scores were 67.1 (+/- 8.4), 72.2 (+/- 10.7), and 82.1 (+/- 6.1), respectively, for career, combination, and volunteer fire departments. The mean Supervisor Support scores were not notably different by organization type. Regression analyses generally supported the beneficial role of safety climate, while suggesting organization type as a potential effect modifier. Specifically, we observed a more negative association between Management Commitment as departments became more career.
Conclusions : Analysis of nationally representative data from the US fire and rescue service indicates safety climate is positively associated with safety behavior, organizational outcomes, and safety outcomes reflecting employee well-being. The findings also suggest that this association varies by organization type. In fact, a dose-response relationship was observed, with Management Commitment to safety lowest among career departments. Thus, our results suggest that it is not just being busy that decreases Management Commitment.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Size matters: How safety climate and downstream outcomes vary by fire department organization type
- Creators
- Ashley M. Geczik - Drexel UniversityJin Lee - Kansas State UniversityAndrea L. Davis - Drexel UniversityJoseph A. Allen - University of UtahJennifer A. Taylor - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Injury epidemiology, v 9(1), pp 11-11
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 17
- Grant note
- EMW-2011-FP-00069 / FEMA FY 2011 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, Fire Prevention and Safety Grants
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Dana and David Dornsife School of Public Health; Environmental and Occupational Health
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000772410200001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85126865317
- Other Identifier
- 991019168367104721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health