Employee Engagement in Safety Practices: Investigating Influential Factors in an Automotive Factory Environment

Aim The aim of this thesis is to explore the key factors that influence employee engagement in safety practices within an automotive factory context. Methods A mixed-methods research design was employed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. The quantitative component consisted of a survey distributed to employees working on the production line. The qualitative component involved three semi-structured interviews with frontline employees. Interview data were analyzed thematically, following the five-phase process of qualitative data analysis to identify recurring patterns and contextual insights. Results The regression results showed that leadership visibility and psychological safety, particularly comfort in reporting and actual reporting of risks, were significant predictors of safety engagement. Compliance behaviors and training had weaker statistical effects. The interviews supported these findings, revealing that visible leadership action and responsive reporting systems develop greater engagement, while time pressure and procedural gaps limit participation. Conclusion This study concludes that employee engagement in safety practices is best developed through a participatory culture supported by leadership commitment and open, psychologically safe communication. These findings offer practical implications for improving safety culture in automotive factory settings, particularly in environments where production demands often compete with safety priorities.