Evaluating safety culture dimensions in a Malaysian semiconductor foundry: A behavior-based safety approach

Abstract

Workplace safety culture is a critical determinant of organizational safety performance, particularly in high-risk industries such as semiconductor foundries. This study evaluates the overall safety performance of a semiconductor foundry in Malaysia by assessing six critical dimensions of safety culture: Safety Commitment-Assurance (SA), Safety Compliance (SC), Safety Awareness-Communication (SAC), Safety Behavior (SB), Stress Recognition (SR), and Teamwork (TW). Using a validated questionnaire and Krejcie and Morgan’s sampling method, data were collected from 70 employees, representing 53% of the target population. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation and frequency analysis, revealed strong positive correlations between SA, SAC, SC, TW, and SB, emphasizing their interconnectedness in fostering a robust safety culture. However, weaker correlations involving SR highlighted the need for targeted interventions to address workplace stressors. The findings align with transformational leadership theory, psychological safety theory, and occupational stress frameworks, providing a theoretical foundation for interpreting the results. Practical implications include recommendations for enhancing leadership engagement, improving communication channels, and implementing stress management programs to strengthen organizational safety culture. While the organization demonstrated a commendable average safety culture score of 4.18, areas for improvement were identified in stress recognition and employee engagement in safety initiatives. These insights offer actionable strategies for organizations to enhance workplace safety and foster continuous improvement. This study contributes to the literature by addressing gaps in behavior-based safety research within Malaysia’s manufacturing sector and proposes a structured framework for evaluating safety culture across diverse organizational contexts.