Trends in Safety Culture Research: A Scopus Analysis

Safety culture plays a vital role in creating safer work environments, making its understanding important. This paper comprehensively analyzes safety culture research trends through a bibliometric study using the Scopus database. This study provided a full insight by analyzing 7058 papers published...

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Main Authors: Al-Baraa Abdulrahman Al-Mekhlafi, Noreen Kanwal, Mohammed Nasser Alhajj, Ahmad Shahrul Nizam Isha, Abdullah O. Baarimah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Safety
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/11/2/33
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author Al-Baraa Abdulrahman Al-Mekhlafi
Noreen Kanwal
Mohammed Nasser Alhajj
Ahmad Shahrul Nizam Isha
Abdullah O. Baarimah
author_facet Al-Baraa Abdulrahman Al-Mekhlafi
Noreen Kanwal
Mohammed Nasser Alhajj
Ahmad Shahrul Nizam Isha
Abdullah O. Baarimah
author_sort Al-Baraa Abdulrahman Al-Mekhlafi
collection DOAJ
description Safety culture plays a vital role in creating safer work environments, making its understanding important. This paper comprehensively analyzes safety culture research trends through a bibliometric study using the Scopus database. This study provided a full insight by analyzing 7058 papers published between 1978 and 2023, employing the PRISMA method and VOSviewer 1.6.19 for bibliometric mapping. The USA, England, China, and Australia are the leading contributors, with Johns Hopkins University being the most active institution. Approximately 75% of publications are co-authored, indicating strong collaboration in this field. Guldenmund (2000) is the most referenced work in safety culture research. Based on the results, this work identifies significant geographical gaps, particularly in Oceania, South America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa, as well as underexplored sectors such as transportation, logistics, energy, sports, education, and construction. The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted research in this area, particularly healthcare, while potentially diverting attention from other critical sectors. This study contributes a fresh perspective on the trends of safety culture research, offering valuable insights for scholars and practitioners. Additionally, it highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the unique challenges faced by safety culture across diverse industries and regions.
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spelling doaj-art-08d2c4985a4c4b019cd2850b5dd9852f2025-08-20T02:21:53ZengMDPI AGSafety2313-576X2025-04-011123310.3390/safety11020033Trends in Safety Culture Research: A Scopus AnalysisAl-Baraa Abdulrahman Al-Mekhlafi0Noreen Kanwal1Mohammed Nasser Alhajj2Ahmad Shahrul Nizam Isha3Abdullah O. Baarimah4Faculty of Leadership and Management, University Sains Islam Malaysia USIM, Nilai 71800, MalaysiaDepartment of Management, Sunway Business School, Sunway University, Selangor 47500, MalaysiaDepartment of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Thamar University, Dhamar 87246, YemenDepartment of Management and Humanities, University Technology PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, MalaysiaDepartment of Civil and Construction Engineering, College of Engineering, A’Sharqiyah University, Ibra 400, OmanSafety culture plays a vital role in creating safer work environments, making its understanding important. This paper comprehensively analyzes safety culture research trends through a bibliometric study using the Scopus database. This study provided a full insight by analyzing 7058 papers published between 1978 and 2023, employing the PRISMA method and VOSviewer 1.6.19 for bibliometric mapping. The USA, England, China, and Australia are the leading contributors, with Johns Hopkins University being the most active institution. Approximately 75% of publications are co-authored, indicating strong collaboration in this field. Guldenmund (2000) is the most referenced work in safety culture research. Based on the results, this work identifies significant geographical gaps, particularly in Oceania, South America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa, as well as underexplored sectors such as transportation, logistics, energy, sports, education, and construction. The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted research in this area, particularly healthcare, while potentially diverting attention from other critical sectors. This study contributes a fresh perspective on the trends of safety culture research, offering valuable insights for scholars and practitioners. Additionally, it highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the unique challenges faced by safety culture across diverse industries and regions.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/11/2/33safety culturebibliometric analysisorganizational safetypatient safety and healthcare
spellingShingle Al-Baraa Abdulrahman Al-Mekhlafi
Noreen Kanwal
Mohammed Nasser Alhajj
Ahmad Shahrul Nizam Isha
Abdullah O. Baarimah
Trends in Safety Culture Research: A Scopus Analysis
Safety
safety culture
bibliometric analysis
organizational safety
patient safety and healthcare
title Trends in Safety Culture Research: A Scopus Analysis
title_full Trends in Safety Culture Research: A Scopus Analysis
title_fullStr Trends in Safety Culture Research: A Scopus Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Trends in Safety Culture Research: A Scopus Analysis
title_short Trends in Safety Culture Research: A Scopus Analysis
title_sort trends in safety culture research a scopus analysis
topic safety culture
bibliometric analysis
organizational safety
patient safety and healthcare
url https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/11/2/33
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AT noreenkanwal trendsinsafetycultureresearchascopusanalysis
AT mohammednasseralhajj trendsinsafetycultureresearchascopusanalysis
AT ahmadshahrulnizamisha trendsinsafetycultureresearchascopusanalysis
AT abdullahobaarimah trendsinsafetycultureresearchascopusanalysis