The Role of Managerial Leadership in Determining Workplace Safety Outcomes

The aim of this report is to review the theoretical and empirical literature that examines the role of managerial leadership in determining organizational safety outcomes.

Three different levels of management, with special responsibilities for safety are identified, senior (or corporate) level managers, middle level managers (including site managers), and supervisors (also known as front line managers or team leaders).

Distinctions between the levels are clarified, the unique contribution of each level to organisational safety outcomes is explored and paths of influence between them are examined.

An attempt will be made to construct a holistic model of how the leadership factors at each level interact to influence health and safety outcomes.

The review is conducted in eight sections.