The Role of Risk Perception on Safety Behavior: Mediated by Safety Motivation and the Moderating Role of co-workers' and Supervisor Safety Climate

Previous studies have acknowledged the impact of risk perception on safety behavior though most of them are controversial. This study aims to clarify this conflict and the mechanism through which risk perception can have an impact on safety behavior.

The present study was descriptive and correlational. The statistical population of this research was 800 employees of Hamadan Fire and Safety Services Organization. The sample size was 261 people based on Morgan table using simple random sampling method. The research data, through four standard questionnaires of risk perception, safety behavior, safety motivation, and safety climate, were collected, and the proposed model was analyzed using structural equation modeling.

The results of this study showed: Perception of risk has a significant effect on the safety motivation of firefighters in Hamadan (0.66). Safety motivation had a considerable effect on safety compliance (0.64) and safety participation (0.42) of firefighters in the Hamadan. Safety motivation plays a mediating role in influencing risk perception on safety compliance (0.61) and safety participation (0.37) of firefighters in Hamadan. The safety atmosphere of the supervisor (0.66) and the safety atmosphere of the colleagues (0.58) moderate the relationship between risk perception and safety motivation.

In general, from the obtained results, it can be understood that risk perception and safety climate are the factors that affect safety motivation, safety participation, and safety compliance. Accordingly, it is suggested that the perception of risk and safety atmosphere be given more attention.