Original Research

Unravelling safety compliance in the mining industry: examining the role of work stress, job insecurity, satisfaction and commitment as antecedents

Uanda Masia, Jaco Pienaar
SA Journal of Industrial Psychology | Vol 37, No 1 | a937 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v37i1.937 | © 2011 Uanda Masia, Jaco Pienaar | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 14 September 2010 | Published: 11 November 2011

About the author(s)

Uanda Masia, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Jaco Pienaar, WorkWell Research Unit, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa

Abstract

Orientation: Safety compliance remains a major issue in the South African mining industry. This article explores the roles of specific work-related job and attitudinal variables in predicting compliance.

Research purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship of work stress, job insecurity, satisfaction and commitment to safety compliance in a mine.

Motivation for the study: The study aims to predict safety compliance through work-related variables in order to manage safety better.

Research design, approach and method: The researchers used a cross-sectional survey design with a convenience sample (n = 158). They distributed a survey booklet. It included a biographical questionnaire, scales for job insecurity, satisfaction, affective organisational commitment, workplace accidents and safety compliance as well as a work stress measure that comprised dimensions of role clarity, conflict and overload.

Main findings: The results showed that work stress and job insecurity had a negative relationship with safety compliance. The researchers found that only job satisfaction was a significant predictor of safety.

Practical/managerial implications: Although exploratory, this study suggests that promoting job satisfaction may improve safety compliance whilst job stress and job insecurity also relate negatively to safety compliance.

Contribution/value-add: This study shows that job satisfaction is more important than organisational commitment, job security and work stress for predicting safety compliance.


Keywords

safety compliance; job insecurity; job satisfaction; affective organisational commitment; work stress

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Crossref Citations

1. The influence of job resources on platinum mineworkers’ work engagement and organisational commitment: An explorative study
Martina Kotzé, Petrus Nel
The Extractive Industries and Society  vol: 7  issue: 1  first page: 146  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1016/j.exis.2020.01.009