Trust-based approaches to safety and production

Conchie, Stacey M. and Woodcock, Helena E. and Taylor, Paul J. (2015) Trust-based approaches to safety and production. In: The Wiley Blackwell handbook of the psychology of occupational safety and workplace health. Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, pp. 111-132. ISBN 9781118978986

Abstract

This chapter discusses the importance of interpersonal trust in the creation of a safe work environment. It highlights that trust is important in increasing employee engagement in safety, willingness to comply with management requests, and propensity to take the initiative. The chapter commences with a definition of trust, explaining how it develops at the interpersonal level. Trust is related to aspects of safety culture, such as open communication and organizational learning; and lack of trust can create a climate of blame and fear. While trust is comprised of beliefs relating to the trustee's ability, benevolence, and integrity, it is both evidence of, and violation of, integrity beliefs that have the biggest impact on trust. Finally, the chapter examines the influence of job-related and organizational factors on safety behavior. It also considers what occurs when trust breaks down and how this can be rectified to regain good safety practices.