Safety Performance in the Construction Sector: The Influence of Transformational Leadership and the Mediating Role of Safety Climate

Abstract

The construction sector has clearly been marked as Holland’s most dangerous work environment where accident occurrence is concerned. The aim of the present study is to shed light on the relationships between leadership, safety climate and safety performance, in order to help leaders to produce more effective safety outcomes. A total of 77 project participants, from three large construction firms in the Netherlands, filled in a questionnaire measuring transformational leadership, safety climate, safety participation and safety compliance. The results reveal a model wherein transformational leadership is positively related to safety participation, and this relationship is mediated by safety information flow; a safety climate subscale. The findings suggest that (the quality of) the leader’s communication is of particular importance for the exertion of a positive influence on safety performance. Future research should pay attention to revealing various ways for leaders to influence safety performance, by focusing on climate strength, communication, different leadership behaviours, and by comparing the impact of these aspects in projects with their influence in organizations.