Development and initial validation of an Aviation Safety Climate Scale.
OBJECTIVE
A need was identified for a consistent set of safety climate factors to provide a basis for aviation industry benchmarking.


METHODS
Six broad safety climate themes were identified from the literature and consultations with industry safety experts. Items representing each of the themes were prepared and administered to 940 Australian commercial pilots.


RESULTS
Data from half of the sample (N=468) were used in an exploratory factor analysis that produced a 3-factor model of Management commitment and communication, Safety training and equipment, and Maintenance. A confirmatory factor analysis on the remaining half of the sample showed the 3-factor model to be an adequate fit to the data.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study have produced a scale of safety climate for aviation that is both reliable and valid.


CONCLUSIONS
This study developed a tool to assess the level of perceived safety climate, specifically of pilots, but may also, with minor modifications, be used to assess other groups' perceptions of safety climate.
Griffith University, Australia. bronwyn@psychogeeks.com
Bronwyn
B
Evans
A Ian
AI
Glendon
Peter A
PA
Creed
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D001359:Aviation / Q000592:standards*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D015279:Organizational Culture; D011590:Psychology, Industrial; D017751:Safety Management / Q000592:standards*; D014894:Weights and Measures