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Dimensions Of Interpersonal Relationships And Safety In The Steel Industry

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Abstract

This paper extends theories explaining the influence of social determinants on workplace safety. Specifically, we applied social capital theory’s emphasis of trust, shared norms, and faithfulness to obligations to the outcomes of at-risk behavior and perceptions of a safe work environment. Data provided by 395 employees of a major steel company supported the hypothesis that shared employee norms predicted both perceptions of work environment safety and at-risk behavior, trust in supervisor predicted perceptions of a safe work environment, and belief in management’s safety values predicted at-risk behaviors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Management, College of Business Administration, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Sutliff Hall Room 235, 400 East Second Street, Bloomsburg, PA, 17815

    George W. Watson

  2. Loyola University Chicago, USA

    Dow Scott

  3. New Mexico State University, USA

    James Bishop

  4. Marsh Risk Consulting, USA

    Treasa Turnbeaugh

Authors
  1. George W. Watson
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  2. Dow Scott
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  3. James Bishop
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  4. Treasa Turnbeaugh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to George W. Watson.

Additional information

This study received funding from Marsh, Inc. in support of their continuing interest in creating safer more productive work environments. We would like to thank William Grimes, Dean Larson and Dennis Morajda for their support and contribution to this research.

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Watson, G.W., Scott, D., Bishop, J. et al. Dimensions Of Interpersonal Relationships And Safety In The Steel Industry. J Bus Psychol 19, 303–318 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-004-2230-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-004-2230-2

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