Work safety climate. Comparison of selected occupational groups

exposed to long-term stimulation, accompanied by high expectations regarding quality and performance standards, often constituting a regulator of production or sales profitability [42], and this often results in a high pace of work and in high fatigue accompanying it. Compared to them, a significant part of rescuers’ working time is taken up by long periods of relative calm, waiting, and being on alert. The psychophysical strain during drills is not as high as the level of stimulation during a real rescue operation either [37]. Therefore, the work of mine rescuers involves operating in extreme conditions, from minimum to maximum stimulation, from long periods of wait, training preparing for activities and drills to stay physically fit to actual participation in emergency situations during the rescue operation. All routine activities per- formed by rescuers are also subject to appropriate planning, and much care is taken to make sure their work is healthy, including ensuring an appropriate balance between activity and rest time. Also, as rescuers are required to stay at the rescue stations, this forces them to function according to a suitable daily rhythm. Significantly higher ratings attributed to such work safety climate dimensions as occupa- tional health and safety training and workplace accident risk management by mine rescuers may also be associated with the specific nature of their work. Mine rescuers, representing a dif- ficult and dangerous profession, experience negative effects resulting from the threats associ-

ated with the occupational activities undertaken, both at the somatic and at the psychological level. Their minimization is based on a good knowledge of the ways of coping in an emergency situation at the cognitive level (recognition and appropriate assessment of the threat and of the related risk) and at the technical level (appropriate use of measuring and protective equip- ment), physical fitness and mental resilience, as well as proper communication and coordina- tion of work within the rescue unit. This process is based on continuous training of the rescuers, based on the analysis of past situations and on simulation of behavior in potential sit- uations that might occur in the future [35]. The scope of responsibility of superiors in this particular occupational group is also not without importance for the explanation of the significantly lower rating attributed by mine res- cuers, compared to industrial production line workers, to such dimensions of the work safety climate as safe behaviors and management engagement. The composition of the rescue unit is not random. Care is taken to make sure that it is permanent, that the unit is composed of suit- ably selected people who complete drills together before proceeding to a rescue operation. During rescue actions, the rescuer must absolutely obey the orders of the unit leader, and is not allowed to comply with third-party orders. Sometimes it is impossible to contact higher- level superiors during the action, and the conditions may be extremely dangerous. In such a

situation, the unit operates as if it were autonomous, with decisions made only by the unit leader, who bears individual responsibility for them [35]. Industrial production line workers, in turn, are subject to constant, direct supervision during the performance of their work, with the aim of eliminating on a systematic basis any behaviors and situations posing a threat. The composition of worker groups is frequently modified depending on the shift work rhythm or recruitment of new team members. The activities of managers and representatives of occupa- tional health and safety services are watched by employees in everyday practice and focus on modeling behaviors in line with the procedures in force and with the job training given to new hires. Workers are expected rather to contribute to the creation of a safe working environment than to make decisions autonomously when a threat occurs [5,6,41]. Compared to retail workers, mine rescuers also rated significantly lower the dimensions involving modeling and enhancing safe behaviors in the organization and atmosphere in the workplace. The results obtained confirm the results of previous research in this area [42–44], related to the importance of the sense of mission and bonding within the rescuer group. They show that although these aspects are important, appropriate equipment, training and effective PLOS ONE Work safety climate PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243056 December 14, 2020 14 / 19