The impact of safety leadership on safety behaviors of aircraft rescue and firefighting personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic

<i>Objectives</i>. Facing risk of contracting COVID-19, adopting individual health and safety behaviors to prevent infection was critical for first responders to ensure personal and public safety. This study assessed direct and indirect relationships between safety leadership, safety behaviors and the effect of risk perceptions on these relationships among aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. <i>Method</i>. A total of 127 ARFF frontline personnel participated in an online survey. COVID-19-specific constructs of safety leadership, safety behaviors and risk perceptions were assessed using a structural model with moderation and serial mediation analysis using the mixed-model method. <i>Results</i>. Safety leadership had significant direct effects on safety compliance and indirect effects on safety participation and mask use. ARFF personnel's perceived severity of the virus had significant direct effects on mask use and indirect effects on safety compliance and participation behaviors. The interaction of safety leadership and perceived susceptibility to the virus had significant direct effects on safety compliance behaviors and indirect effects on safety participation and mask use. <i>Conclusion</i>. There are practical implications to strengthen safety compliance behaviors through leadership. This study contributes to the literature on leadership and safety behaviors among ARFF personnel during exceptional circumstances and times of crisis.