Mechanisms and Driving Forces of Safety Culture Co-Creation in the Forest Industry

The forest industry is one of the most dangerous workplaces worldwide, and although safety culture is recognized as important safety antecedent, there is still a theoretical and practical need for understanding how safety culture is co-created in the forest industry. To fill this gap, this article h...

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Main Authors: Alina Linden, Henrik Barth, Pia Ulvenblad, Elin Karlsson, Rom Rwamamara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Safety
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/11/2/45
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author Alina Linden
Henrik Barth
Pia Ulvenblad
Elin Karlsson
Rom Rwamamara
author_facet Alina Linden
Henrik Barth
Pia Ulvenblad
Elin Karlsson
Rom Rwamamara
author_sort Alina Linden
collection DOAJ
description The forest industry is one of the most dangerous workplaces worldwide, and although safety culture is recognized as important safety antecedent, there is still a theoretical and practical need for understanding how safety culture is co-created in the forest industry. To fill this gap, this article has the purpose of exploring mechanisms and driving forces of safety culture co-creation within the Swedish forest industry. Data is collected via on-site focus group interviews with 136 employees of a Swedish pulp- and paper factory. Data is analysed via thematic analysis. Results show that communication and engagement, safety training and knowledge sharing, reporting and risk management as well as integration of safety in daily operations are central safety culture co-creation mechanisms. Driving forces of safety culture co-creation driving forces are leadership commitment to safety, employee responsibility and collaboration, a continuous improvement mindset and work environment and psychosocial wellbeing. Central safety culture co-creation mechanisms and driving forces are identified in communication and interaction that span all individuals, teams, departments, organizational entities and hierarchical levels as basis for successful, sustainable and holistic safety culture co-creation.
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spelling doaj-art-ac429fb2bc304154bb62a7510ffbdd392025-08-20T02:21:53ZengMDPI AGSafety2313-576X2025-05-011124510.3390/safety11020045Mechanisms and Driving Forces of Safety Culture Co-Creation in the Forest IndustryAlina Linden0Henrik Barth1Pia Ulvenblad2Elin Karlsson3Rom Rwamamara4School of Business, Innovation and Sustainability, Halmstad University, Kristian IV:s Väg 3, 30118 Halmstad, SwedenSchool of Business, Innovation and Sustainability, Halmstad University, Kristian IV:s Väg 3, 30118 Halmstad, SwedenSchool of Business, Innovation and Sustainability, Halmstad University, Kristian IV:s Väg 3, 30118 Halmstad, SwedenAspa Pulp, Fabriksvägen, 69680 Aspabruk, SwedenAspa Pulp, Fabriksvägen, 69680 Aspabruk, SwedenThe forest industry is one of the most dangerous workplaces worldwide, and although safety culture is recognized as important safety antecedent, there is still a theoretical and practical need for understanding how safety culture is co-created in the forest industry. To fill this gap, this article has the purpose of exploring mechanisms and driving forces of safety culture co-creation within the Swedish forest industry. Data is collected via on-site focus group interviews with 136 employees of a Swedish pulp- and paper factory. Data is analysed via thematic analysis. Results show that communication and engagement, safety training and knowledge sharing, reporting and risk management as well as integration of safety in daily operations are central safety culture co-creation mechanisms. Driving forces of safety culture co-creation driving forces are leadership commitment to safety, employee responsibility and collaboration, a continuous improvement mindset and work environment and psychosocial wellbeing. Central safety culture co-creation mechanisms and driving forces are identified in communication and interaction that span all individuals, teams, departments, organizational entities and hierarchical levels as basis for successful, sustainable and holistic safety culture co-creation.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/11/2/45occupational safetyworkplace safetysafety cultureco-creationforest industrypaper industry
spellingShingle Alina Linden
Henrik Barth
Pia Ulvenblad
Elin Karlsson
Rom Rwamamara
Mechanisms and Driving Forces of Safety Culture Co-Creation in the Forest Industry
Safety
occupational safety
workplace safety
safety culture
co-creation
forest industry
paper industry
title Mechanisms and Driving Forces of Safety Culture Co-Creation in the Forest Industry
title_full Mechanisms and Driving Forces of Safety Culture Co-Creation in the Forest Industry
title_fullStr Mechanisms and Driving Forces of Safety Culture Co-Creation in the Forest Industry
title_full_unstemmed Mechanisms and Driving Forces of Safety Culture Co-Creation in the Forest Industry
title_short Mechanisms and Driving Forces of Safety Culture Co-Creation in the Forest Industry
title_sort mechanisms and driving forces of safety culture co creation in the forest industry
topic occupational safety
workplace safety
safety culture
co-creation
forest industry
paper industry
url https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/11/2/45
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AT henrikbarth mechanismsanddrivingforcesofsafetyculturecocreationintheforestindustry
AT piaulvenblad mechanismsanddrivingforcesofsafetyculturecocreationintheforestindustry
AT elinkarlsson mechanismsanddrivingforcesofsafetyculturecocreationintheforestindustry
AT romrwamamara mechanismsanddrivingforcesofsafetyculturecocreationintheforestindustry