Determinants of Self-Efficacy Perception in the Field of Occupational Health and Safety: An Assessment on Public Employees

The effectiveness of occupational health and safety (OHS) practices depends on more than just the standards set by legislation; it also depends on employees' level of knowledge and self-efficacy perceptions. This study aims to evaluate the occupational health and safety (OHS) self-efficacy perceptions of 159 public sector employees in Igdir Province and reveal the demographic and organizational variables affecting these perceptions. The study examined employees' knowledge and awareness of OHS in relation to their length of service, education level, work style, previous OHS training, and relationship with the organization's safety culture. Data were collected via a questionnaire, and descriptive statistical methods were employed for the analysis. The results revealed that individuals who received OHS training had higher self-efficacy perceptions and adopted the safety culture more effectively in the workplace. A significant proportion of the participants were university graduates who were employed on a permanent basis with an average length of service. Notably, employees who received search and rescue and firefighting training were found to make faster and more effective decisions in crisis situations. However, 35% of participants did not receive search and rescue training, and 42% did not receive firefighting training. This indicates that a lack of training is an important limiting factor in occupational health and safety (OHS) practices. These findings are expected to contribute to policy development processes that promote safety culture in public institutions and prevent occupational accidents.