Safety Climate: Definition and Significance in the Workplace

The concept of 'safety climate' was first introduced by Israeli scientist Zohar in 1980 (Zohar, 1980). It represents a specific form of organizational climate, derived from the broader organizational climate construct. Safety climate is commonly understood as an organizational-level construct, reflecting individual perceptions of the value placed on safety within the work environment (Griffin & Curcuruto, 2016; Neal, Griffin, & Hart, 2000). It is also associated with the significance and importance of safety within the organization (Huang, 2009).

Extensive research has been conducted to define and explore the role of safety climate (Nicole & Fran￧ois, 1991; Toivo, 1994; Coyle, Sleeman, & Adams, 1995; Williamson, Feyer, Cairns, & Biancotti, 1997; Yule, Flin, & Murdy, 2007). Safety climate is defined as 'the molar and unified set of cognitions [held by workers] regarding the safety aspects of their organization' (Hofmann & Morgeson, 1999), reflecting management's commitment to safety and employees' perceptions of safety performance. In other words, safety climate represents the combination of the safety conditions in the workplace and the workers' attitudes towards safety (Yule, Flin, & Murdy, 2007).

Based on the existing literature and considering the specifics of the Chinese construction industry, this study defines safety climate as the overall evaluation of safety conditions and safety status by personnel.