Safety Culture and Incident Reporting in Developing Countries: An Empirical Analysis

Abstract

This study examines the interaction between safety
culture and incident reporting practices in developing
countries, highlighting the significant influence of
cultural, socio-economic, and systemic factors on
reporting behaviors. This research employs both
quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to
investigate how dimensions of organizational safety
culture, including management commitment and
communication, impact incident reporting statistics.
Organizations that maintain a strong safety culture
achieve significantly higher reporting rates,
underscoring the crucial role of leadership
engagement, open communication, and ongoing
learning in safety practices. The research identified
fear of reprisal, insufficient resources, and hierarchical
workplace structures as principal obstacles. The
research reveals that interventions must be customized
to develop safety cultures that enable transparent
reporting and better safety results. Leadership-driven
initiatives combined with enhanced training programs
and robust reporting systems provide an effective
strategy for building a culture of safety in developing
contexts.