The influence of safety culture, fatalism, and free will beliefs on employees' safety performance

Zengin M. A., Sekmen M.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND ERGONOMICS, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)

Özet

This study investigates how occupational health and safety (OHS) culture and fatalistic beliefs influence safety performance in the Turkish machinery manufacturing industry. Data were collected from 376 employees using validated scales and analyzed with structural equation modeling. The results showed that OHS safety culture positively affected safety performance, whereas awareness, training, and risk perception did not have significant individual effects. Risk perception increased fatalistic tendencies, whereas free will beliefs positively predicted safety performance. Fatalistic beliefs were not significant predictors, suggesting that formal safety regulations and mandatory procedures in the machinery sector may limit their behavioral effects. These findings underline the joint role of organizational culture and personal belief systems in shaping workplace safety. The study contributes to safety research in a high-risk sector and offers practical implications for managers and policymakers. Strengthening safety culture and supporting free will beliefs may help reduce workplace accidents.