Citation

Mori T, Nagata T, Odagami K, Nagata M, Purwito Adi N, Mori K. J. Saf. Res. 2024; 89: 19-25.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsr.2024.01.002

PMID

38858042

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Preventing occupational accidents is a major global challenge, and employee safety practices play a crucial role in accident prevention. Although perceived organizational support (POS) is related to safety practices, there is currently insufficient evidence supporting a relationship between POS and occupational accidents. We investigated the relationships between POS and both occupational accidents and near-miss events that can lead to accidents in the following year among workers in various industries in Japan.

METHOD: This prospective cohort study was conducted from March 2022 to March 2023 using a questionnaire survey. In total, 9916 participants who completed the follow-up survey and met our inclusion criteria were analyzed. The follow-up survey asked participants about both occupational accidents and near-miss events experienced in the year following the baseline assessment. POS was evaluated at baseline using the eight-item version of the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support. Odds ratios (ORs) for the relationships between POS and occupational accidents and near-miss events were estimated using multilevel logistic regression analyses nested by industries.

RESULTS: The ORs for self-reported occupational accidents were significantly higher for the moderate (OR = 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10-1.82), low (OR = 1.49, 95%CI: 1.18-1.89), and very low (OR = 2.03, 95%CI: 1.61-2.56) POS groups compared with the very high group. The ORs for self-reported near-miss events were also significantly higher for the moderate (OR = 1.21, 95%CI: 1.03-1.43), low (OR = 1.20, 95%CI: 1.03-1.40), and very low (OR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.34-1.82) groups than the very high group.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest lower POS is related to a higher occurrence of occupational accidents and near-miss events in the following year. Organizations should consider enhancing employees' POS to reduce occupational accidents and near-miss events. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: To enhance employees' POS, organizations should address identified antecedents of POS (e.g., fairness, supervisor support, rewards, favorable job conditions, and human resource practices).

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Adult; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Occupational Health; Surveys and Questionnaires; Japan/epidemiology; Organizational Culture; East Asian People; *Accidents, Occupational/prevention & control/statistics & numerical data; Near-miss events; Occupational accidents; Perceived organizational support; Safety climate; Safety practices