The impact of contextual constraints on the role of management commitment in safety culture: a moderation analysis

Safety culture (SC) can play a key role in workers’ health and well-being, as well as in organizational performance. The literature has demonstrated a positive relationship between SC and organizational indicators such as safety performance. However, there is still a need to understand the impact of contextual factors and to identify strategies that promote employee well-being and organizational effectiveness. This cross-sectional study aims to analyze the relationship between different components of SC—management commitment, safety management systems (SMS), and worker participation in safety—and to explore the moderating role of perceived barriers to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the physical demands of the job in these relationships. The study involved 473 Portuguese workers from the construction and industrial sectors. Correlation and moderation analyses were performed. The results revealed positive correlations among the main SC components, highlighting their interconnection within the organizational context. A moderating effect—albeit of small magnitude—was also found for both perceived barriers and physical demands in the relationship between management commitment and the other dimensions of SC. The results are discussed in light of their implications for safety management and the promotion of healthier and more sustainable workplaces.