Perceived Workplace Health and Safety Climates: Associations With Worker Outcomes and Productivity

This study investigates the associations between perceived workplace health and safety climates and a variety of worker and employer outcomes.

Self-reported data were collected from an employee health assessment offered at 3 companies (n=959) in 2014. Independent variables included 2 climate variables: perceived safety climate and perceived health and well-being climate. Logistic regression models, performed in 2016-2017, explored the associations between the 2 climate variables and 3 sets of outcomes: worker outcomes, worker health behaviors, and employer outcomes.

Perceived workplace safety climate was positively associated with physical activity and optimal sleep. Stronger perceived workplace health and well-being and safety climates were related to less depression, higher job and life satisfaction, less back pain, and higher general health. Stronger perceived climates of workplace safety and health and well-being were associated with less productivity loss.

Conditions of work, such as perceived climate, are associated with improved worker behaviors (physical activity and sleep), worker outcomes (depression, job and life satisfaction, back pain, and general health), and employer (productivity) outcomes.