Impact of Safety Culture on Incident Reporting in Developing Countries

Abstract

This research examines how safety culture affects incident reporting practices within developing nations, focusing on the healthcare and construction industries, which carry high risks. The research demonstrates that open communication, psychological safety, and nonpunitive error responses form the basis of a strong safety culture that promotes transparent incident reporting. The study employs mixed-methods research to combine quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews, assessing the effects of organizational attitudes, leadership commitment, and communication structures on employees' readiness to report safety events. Research findings indicate that organizational environments characterized by blame-based cultures and hierarchical systems, combined with inadequate feedback mechanisms, negatively impact reporting practices. When organizations foster trust among employees, alongside team collaboration and leadership advocacy, they experience an increase in safety reports and improved outcomes.