Mining Publication: Assessing the Impact of Safety Climate Constructs on Worker Performance in the Mining Industry

To advance a more tangible understanding of health and safety climate in the U.S. mining industry, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) surveyed members of mining workforces about experiences at their respective mine operations. The survey measured four personal (i.e., risk tolerance, thoroughness, sense of control, and adaptability) and six organizational (i.e., organizational support, supervisor support, supervisor communication, coworker communication, worker engagement, and training) constructs to determine significant influences on health and safety (H&S) performance, which was measured in the form of worker proactivity, compliance, and reported near misses or other incidents. This report, unlike other safety climate reports, focuses on individual perceived safety climate [Neal and Griffin 2006] versus crew-based approaches to such assessments.

Participants consisted of 2,683 workers—both salaried and hourly—at 39 mine sites throughout 17 states. The mines represented nine major companies and three mining subsectors (coal, stone, sand, and gravel, and industrial minerals). This report analyzes, assesses, and presents data about these safety climate constructs to help those who manage companies, mine organizations, or groups of workers, to develop, target and improve, or implement parts of a health and safety management system (HSMS) to support workers’ H&S performance while reducing the likelihood of workplace incidents.