Social exchange and safety: how trust, fairness, and engagement promote safe behaviors

Alarming safety incidents plague the maritime industry. This study explores how trust in leaders, perceived fairness, and collective engagement influence worker safety. We surveyed 392 seafarers and offshore personnel across Brazil and the Philippines. Our findings reveal that trust in leadership and perceived fairness contribute to a positive safety climate. Furthermore, collective organizational engagement is positively associated with safety motivation and safety behavior, in a way that safety motivation mediates the effect of collective organizational engagement on safety behavior. Additionally, we confirm that a positive safety climate indirectly influences safety behavior through safety motivation. By highlighting the importance of social exchange processes, this research offers valuable insights for improving safety practices in the maritime industry.