Effects of non-accident and non-punishment experiences: A planned behaviour perspective

The aim of this article is to analyse the impact of Non-Accident Experiences (NAEs) on the violations of safety regulations at work, to introduce the concept of the Non-Punishment Experiences (NPEs) and to analyse the influence of NAEs and NPEs on the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). 180 participants replied to a questionnaire measuring experiences and TPB constructs and habit in relation to violations at work. The results suggest that personal experiences determine attitude in particular (ß = .20, p < .01 for NAE; ß = .22, p < .001 for NPE), whereas the experiences of others influence the subjective norm (ß = .32, p < .001 for NAE and NPE). Personal experiences have significant effects on habit (ß = .43, p < .001 for NAE; ß = .46, p < .001 for NPE) and intention (ß = .33, p < .001 for NAE and NPE). The discussion concerns the integration of these concepts into research on safety climate. It underlines the importance of developing a safety culture where everyone learns where the limits of acceptable practices lie.