Modeling the relationship between safety culture and safety performance in oil and gas using PLS-SEM

Introduction This study examines the impact of safety culture on safety performance in Malaysia’s upstream oil and gas sector. It specifically investigates how key dimensions of safety culture—management commitment, leadership, employee involvement, work environment, and organisational communication—contribute to reducing workplace risks and improving safety outcomes. Methods A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were collected from 371 employees working in Malaysia’s upstream oil and gas industry. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesised relationships and evaluate the overall model fit. Results The findings indicate that safety culture has a significant and positive effect on safety performance. All examined dimensions—management commitment, leadership, employee involvement, work environment, and organisational communication—were found to be strong predictors of improved safety outcomes. Organisations with a well-developed safety culture reported fewer incidents, more effective safety practices, and safer working conditions. Discussion The results highlight the critical role of fostering a strong safety culture in high-risk industries. Practically, organisations can enhance safety performance by strengthening leadership involvement, improving communication, and encouraging employee participation in safety practices. However, the study is limited by its cross-sectional design, which restricts causal interpretation, and reliance on self-reported data within a specific industry context. Despite these limitations, the study contributes to the safety management literature by providing empirical evidence of the relationship between safety culture and safety performance in the Malaysian oil and gas sector, offering both theoretical insights and practical guidance for industry practitioners.