The Influence of Top Management's Safety Leadership on Employees' Safety Behavior Through Multi-Level Analysis: Focusing on the Moderating Effects of Safety Culture and Institutional Pressure

This study examined how internal organizational factors and external environmental pressures influenced safety behaviors. First, it was hypothesized that safety leadership would had a positive influence on employees' safety behaviors. Additionally, it was predicted that the relationship between safety leadership and safety behavior would be moderated by safety culture, an internal organizational factor, and the recognition of institutional pressure regarding safety, an external environmental factor. To explore these relationships, a cross-level analysis was conducted. While safety leadership and safety behavior were analyzed at the individual level, safety culture and the recognition of institutional pressure were analyzed at the organizational level. A total of 119 companies, 119 top executives, and 639 employees participated in the survey. The analysis revealed that safety leadership had a significantly positive influece on safety behavior. While safety culture did not moderate the relationship between safety leadership and safety behavior, it was found to directly influence safety behavior. On the other hand, institutional pressure regarding safety was found to strengthen the relationship between safety leadership and safety behavior. Based on these findings, theoretical and practical implications were discussed.