The role of in-house safety professionals in influencing organizational safety performance across global industries

Abstract

Safety professionals play a crucial role in assessing and managing organizational risks, with their contributions widely recognized for life and cost savings. Organizations employing in-house safety professionals have reported a 60% lower accident frequency rate, a key lagging indicator, compared to those relying solely on external safety consultants. However, recent recognition of the limitations of lagging indicators has shifted the focus toward leading indicators, which offer proactive insights to improve safety and reduce risk. This work evaluates the influence of in-house safety professionals on organizational safety performance, with a particular emphasis on leading indicators. Data was collected via a survey of 1447 participants across global industries, and a robust two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was conducted to evaluate the individual and interactive effects of in-house safety professionals and other factors on organizational safety performance. The analysis also explored the interplay of organizational and personal factors. Findings reveal that the presence of in-house safety professionals generally enhances organizational safety performance. Additionally, factors such as industry type, employees' perceptions of the employer's safety commitment, and safety experience also significantly influence their safety performance. This study underscores the vital role of in-house safety professionals in advancing proactive safety strategies and provides organizations with actionable insights to strengthen their safety performance and cultivate a resilient safety culture.