2.3. Safety behavior criterion
B. Postlethwaite et al. / Personality and Individual Differences 47 (2009) 711–716
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A 29-item supervisor rating instrument was developed as part
of a larger test validation study This tool allowed supervisors to assess participant
performance along a standard set of workplace
performance dimensions including task performance, prosocial/
organizational citizenship behavior, counterproductive work
behavior, and safety behavior.
The five-item safety behavior scale was used as the performance
criterion in this study. Each participant’s supervisor was
provided with a description of five safety behaviors and examples
of each behavior (e.g., frequency of work-related accidents; failure
to follow safety manuals/procedures; endangering others (coworkers
or customers) by disregarding safety procedures; distractibility
when performing dangerous tasks; and legal action due to
unsafe work behaviors). Supervisors then rated the frequency with
which participants displayed each behavior using a six-point scale.
Each supervisor was assured that their ratings would be used for
research purposes only. Previous research has shown that the
safety behavior scale demonstrates acceptable internal consistency
reliability