The effect of an embargo, sanctions and culture on safety climate: A qualitative view from aviation maintenance in the MENA region
Safety climate assessment is a key measure of organizational safety. A strong safety climate is integral to the high safety performance in aviation. Most survey instruments that purport to measure safety climate are derived from evidence obtained in developed countries in the west. It is rare for these studies to examine the influence of macro-environmental factors on safety climate, and rarer still in countries found in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The researchers conducted 28 semi-structured interviews with experienced aviation maintenance engineers from a national carrier in the region. The interview questions were derived from an extensive review of existing studies of safety climate. Data from interview transcripts were coded, creating a data structure using participant quotes for 1st order codes and arriving at three aggregate dimensions: organizational commitment to safety, organizational safety practices and social relationships and their consequences. Commercial considerations influenced negatively organizational commitment to safety. Organizational safety practices were weak. There was a lack of safety training, a lack of resources to support safe working, poor safety communication, and a failure to report safety issues. Strong friendships were developed through working together in teams. This adversely influenced the reporting of errors and the punishment of violations. The apparently weak organizational safety climate reported here was attributed to financial constraints following the imposition of economic sanctions and embargos, and to the influence of Arabic cultural values that privilege family connections and the importance of maintaining harmony in social relationships that precludes punishment. Financial constraints inevitably limit resources for safety and encourage prioritization of production. Arabic cultural values inhibit the development of a ‘just’ culture and a ‘reporting’ culture and challenge the universal adoption of approaches for promoting organizational safety developed in the West.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1800052
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Supplemental Notes:
- © 2022 National Safety Council and Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
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Authors:
- Ben-Saed, Mohamed
- Pilbeam, Colin
- Publication Date: 2022-6
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Web
- Features: References;
- Pagination: pp 259-269
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Serial:
- Journal of Safety Research
- Volume: 81
- Issue Number: 0
- Publisher: Elsevier
- ISSN: 0022-4375
- Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00224375
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Aviation safety; Maintenance personnel; Maintenance practices; Safety culture; Social factors
- Geographic Terms: Africa; Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
- Subject Areas: Aviation; Maintenance and Preservation; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01846197
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: May 24 2022 10:05AM