Determinants of Workplace Safety Climate in Iron and Steel Industries in Tanzania

Abstract Introduction Safety climate has been associated with several workplace safety outcomes. However, limited research has examined its determinants. Understanding these determinants is essential for developing and implementing effective safety improvement strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the relationship between workplace safety climate and selected sociodemographic and organizational factors in the iron and steel industry in Tanzania. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in four iron and steel industrial sites in Tanzania. Three hundred and twenty-one workers from the production lines participated. Data were collected through interviews using the Swahili version of the Nordic Safety Climate Questionnaire (NOSACQ-50- Kiswahili). Regression analyses were used to identify determinants of safety climate. Results Most workers (80,4%) reported a low level of safety climate. Workers with more than four years of experience (adjusted odds ratio 2.22, and 95 percent confidence interval 1.04–4.72) and those who had received on-the- job safety training (adjusted odds ratio 2.12, and 95 percent confidence interval1.02-4.42) were significantly more likely to report a positive safety climate in the iron and steel industry. Conclusions This study indicates that work experience and on-the-job training are determinants of safety climate in the iron and steel industry. Organizations should prioritize comprehensive on-the-job training, particularly during employee induction, to ensure that recruits acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize workplace hazards, comply with safety procedures, and understand their responsibility for maintaining a safe work environment.