An empirical investigation of safety climate in container terminal operators.
BACKGROUND
This study empirically evaluates the crucial dimensions of safety climate from a container terminal operator's perspective, specifically in the Port of Kaohsiung.


METHODS
Seven safety climate dimensions are identified based on factor analysis: (a) supervisor safety, (b) job safety, (c) coworkers' safety, (d) safety management, (e) safety training, (f) safety rules and special safety training, and (g) job pressure. Cluster analysis is subsequently performed to form worker groups. Respondents are categorized into four groups on the basis of their factor scores in safety climate dimensions: (a) safety management oriented terminal operators, (b) safety training and management oriented terminal operators, (c) job safety and supervisor safety oriented terminal operators, and (d) coworkers' safety oriented terminal operators.


RESULTS
Results indicate that safety training and management oriented terminal operators have the best safety performance, followed by safety management oriented terminal operators, job safety and supervisor safety oriented terminal operators, and coworkers' safety oriented terminal operators. Theoretical and practical implications of the research findings are discussed.
Lu
Chin-Shan
CS
Department of Transportation and Communication Management Science, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1 University Road, Tainan City 701, Taiwan, ROC. lucs@mail.ncku.edu.tw
Shang
Kuo-chung
KC
D000056:Accident Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000592:standards*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013624:Taiwan