Called to Safety? Individual and Combined Effects of Safety Climate and Occupational Callings on Aviator Safety Performance

Abstract

Verbatim from Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

This study examined the individual and combined effects of two potential antecedents to aviation-related safety performance: safety climate and occupational callings. Research exploring the importance of occupational callings to the safety domain is in its nascent stages. The extent that someone is living a calling may explain variance in actual safety performance above that which can be explained by safety climate alone. Survey data from aviators in a flight training program were analyzed to evaluate the ability of occupational calling assessments to inform the potential for safety mishaps within the aviation industry. Results indicate that both safety climate and occupational callings may inform the potential for safety mishaps better than either alone. Occupational callings may be used to augment safety climate assessments in monitoring and improving aviation safety performance.

Authors

• Gazica, Michele W. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Bowen, Erin E. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• McCarson, Michael A. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Chadwell, Kristen A-M. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• safety
• pilot selection
• occupational callings
• Aviation and Space Education
• Aviation Safety and Security
• Industrial and Organizational Psychology