Utilization of an Exploratory Design to Identify Safety Climate Dimensions and a Multi-level Model of Safety Climate in the Fire Service

Common mixed-methods designs include an exploratory design, which involves two phases.  The first phase involves qualitative methods to explore phenomena related to the study and to provide a basis for a more systematic quantitative study, which is the second phase (Leedy & Ormrod, 2013).  This presentation describes the methods and results from the exploratory phase of a study of safety climate in firefighting. This study is underway with two large, metropolitan fire departments, one each in the eastern and western United States.  We will begin by describing the multiple qualitative methods and analyses used in the study.  We will discuss the utilization of the critical incident interview technique and the use of focus groups to aid in identifying key dimensions of safety climate and refining the conceptual model undergirding this study.  We also utilized subject matter experts in multiple activities and cognitive interviews to finalize safety climate dimensions and measurement scales.  Following this, we will discuss how these techniques have provided additional insight into safety-related issues in firefighting and to the relative applicability of general industry literature on organizational factors, safety climate and safety performance.  Although many of the dimensions are consistent with the extant literature, there are some differences that attendees will find novel as they appear to contradict current safety climate knowledge.  Another interesting finding that will be highlighted is the fact that several extra-organizational climate factors were identified.  These novel aspects may need to be considered when examining climate factors that influence safety outcomes.