The Combined Effect of Psychosocial Safety Climate and OHS Vulnerabilities on Workplace Injury Risks

OBJECTIVE: Physical and psychological workplace injuries present serious risks to employee well-being, productivity, and public health. More fully understanding the combined role of the psychosocial and physical work environments in increasing the risk of work injuries is an important public health concern. We explored the relationship between psychosocial safety climate (PSC) and occupational health and safety vulnerability (OHS-V) and their combined impact on work-related physical and psychological injuries. METHODS: Workers in British Columbia completed a cross-sectional online survey, measuring injuries, demographic, and job-related covariates. The PSC-12 scale assessed management priorities, consultation, and communication, while the OHS-V index evaluated hazards and protections. Adjusted regression models estimated the risk ratios associated with OHS-V and PSC on injury, and additive effects between PSC/OHS exposures and injury were explored. RESULTS: High-risk PSC and OHS-V environments were independently associated with increased risk of both psychological (RR = 3.09, 95% CI = 2.60-3.66 and RR = 4.78, 95% CI = 3.82-5.97, respectively) and physical injury (RR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.88-2.41 and RR = 3.32, 95% CI = 2.89-3.82, respectively). The combined effect of high-risk PSC and OHS-V showed additive impacts, with the combination of high-risk PSC and OHS-V environments associated with an RR of 10.08 (95% CI = 4.48-22.70) for psychological injuries and an RR of 4.77 (95% CI = 2.61-8.71) for physical injuries. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the importance of addressing both psychosocial and physical safety factors to prevent physical and psychological injury. Targeting both psychosocial and physical hazards in combination can reduce the incidence of both types of injuries, promoting a healthier, more productive workforce.