Responsibility Allocation for Workplace Accidents

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate responsibility allocation for workplace accidents. Both situational factors (safety climate, task familiarity, presence of warnings and perceived risk) and individual difference variables (locus of control and participant supervisor status) were studied because both characteristics of the observer and the situation moderate individual interpretations regarding the cause of accidents. Work scenarios were developed to manipulate two levels of the situational factors. The Adult Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Scale was used to assess participant locus of control orientation. Participants (n=320) were employed individuals from San Diego County. Significantly more responsibility was allocated to the employer when safety climate was perceived to be weak. There were significant interactions of locus of control with both perceived risk and task familiarity. Results indicate that employees in organizations with strong safety climates are more likely to take personal ownership of their tasks and feel personally responsible for outcomes.