Work safety climate. Comparison of selected occupational groups

differently to stress, and assess individual dimensions of the work safety climate differently from men [46]. An important aspect may also be the position of the studied individuals within the organi- zational structure. Research [47] proves that the higher this position is, and consequently the more responsible the respective individuals are for shaping the safety culture in the organiza- tion and the larger impact they have on it, the more positively they rate the safety climate. This variable was not taken into account in the studied groups. Schwatka et al. [26] and Noort et al. [48] also point to the differences in the perception of the work safety climate resulting from the form of employment (e.g. workers employed by construction subcontractor companies rate climate lower). The research presented in this paper does not take into account data such as the legal form of the employment contract either. It is possible that the survey respondents employed in industry or retail included temporary employment agency workers. Directions for future research We believe that the results obtained may provide the basis for the development of programs aimed at modifying dangerous behaviors, based on studies of multiple dimensions of the work safety climate, which can be implemented in practice. Such programs, for instance in the form of workshops, could contribute to an improvement of the safety culture and of the quality of life of workers representing the occupational groups distinguished. The research presented in this paper did not take into account individual factors related to

personality traits or other inherent predispositions of individuals working in the relevant occu- pations, either. We believe that it would be desirable to supplement the research model with external and organizational determinants as well as ones related to the specific nature of the work performed by representatives of the individual occupational groups, physical and mental health, as well as selected psychological traits of the employees, such as personality and tempera- mental characteristics, e.g. perseverance, conscientiousness, motivation of achievements, willing- ness to compete, sense of coherence and self-efficacy, dispositional optimism and ways of coping with stress, social support and other traits, which may translate into the way in which people behave in the workplace in safety-related situations [49]. National culture may also constitute an important variable, so comparisons between organizations with similar work specificities, oper- ating in different countries and on different continents, could lead to some interesting insights. Combining these factors into a single coherent model would make it possible to provide a fuller picture of the significant determinants of work safety climate assessment determinants. This could be achieved by using a cultural adaptation of the tool used in the presented research to study the safety climate in the organization (version in English and Polish in the appendix), potentially applied in broader analyses of the determinants of safe behavior of employees.

The results of systematic research could also serve as a basis for comparing individual units within the organization, between branches of the organization located in different countries, or workplaces with a similar activity profile. This in turn would make it possible to identify the most effective operating practices within the specific company as well as among the entities operating in the analyzed industry. Research on the work safety climate in individual organiza- tions could therefore constitute an element of benchmarking in the management of safety in the organization and in the industry as a whole. Conclusions The research results obtained are in line with the previous reports of other researchers, pre- senting differences in the assessment of the work safety climate by representatives of different PLOS ONE Work safety climate PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243056 December 14, 2020 16 / 19