The effects of perceived and objective safety risk on employee outcomes

Perceptions related to work safety are examined in relation to their ability to account for variation in employer attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors indicative cf vocational adjustment, after objective indicators of safety risk have been taken into account. Results, based on a sample of 1167 railroad employees. indicate that objective risk factors typically accounted for 1-3% of the variation in outcome indicators, with perceptions of work safety explaining between I and 20% of additional variation. The importance of safety perceptions as a predictor of employee outcomes is discussed. (C) 1998 Academic Press.