Structural equation modeling of safety integration and production pressure effects on safety performance in cement manufacturing

The cement industry continues to experience substantial production pressure driven by steadily increasing global demand. In this context, the present study investigates the relationship between safety integration and safety performance, with production pressure examined as a mediating variable. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was employed to analyze these relationships within the cement industry. Safety Integration included Labor Safety Accountability, Management Safety Accountability, and Contractor Safety Management, while Safety Performance was categorized into incident measurements (SPx), management actions (SPy), and continuous improvement efforts (SPz). Production pressure encompassed the Normalization of Unsafe Practices, Disruptions in Safety Protocols, and Production Pressure Intensity. Data from 238 participants, collected over 3 months were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS (version 23). Labor Safety Accountability consistently influenced safety performance (p < 0.001 on SPx, p < 0.001 on SPy, p = 0.001 on SPz), while Contractor Safety Management and Management Safety Accountability also showed significant effects (p = 0.011 on SPx, p < 0.001 on SPz). Production Pressure Intensity and Disruptions in Safety Protocols negatively affected safety performance (p = 0.014 on SPx, p = 0.026 on SPy) respectively, while Normalization of Unsafe Practices exhibited a weak influence. The findings confirm that safety integration significantly enhances safety performance, whereas production pressure exerts a substantial negative impact, diminishing overall safety outcomes in the cement industry. Unlike prior studies that largely examine safety performance in isolation, this research uniquely demonstrates how production pressure mediates the link between safety integration and safety outcomes in the cement industry, highlighting the dual challenge of maintaining productivity while safeguarding workers and offering new insights for both scholars and practitioners in high demand industrial sectors.