Dimensions of occupational health and safety culture: The case of Istanbul University

One of the most significant issues of working life is occupational health and safety and for the realization of its principles, rules, and practices in institutions, it is not only required to carry out legislative arrangement, but it is also needed to create the culture of occupational health and safety. In this respect, it is required to review the organizational culture, strengthen the communication channels, accelerate the administrative mechanisms, and put the quality politics, procedures, and instructions into practice. The main purpose of this study is to examine the elements that are effective in creating a culture of occupational health and safety and to elaborate these elements through a field research conducted at Istanbul University. In this context, a questionnaire was prepared for the academic and administrative staff working at Istanbul University and 410 feedbacks were received. Survey results were evaluated by using frequency analysis method. When the literature was reviewed, it was found that the studies investigating the factors affecting the formation of occupational health and safety culture were quite limited. This study is of particular importance because it has analyzed this subject in İstanbul University, one of Turkey's, even the world's well-established universities. As a result of the study, it was found that occupational health and safety culture started to settle in Istanbul University but it has not yet become mature enough. Key Words: Occupational Health and Safety, Organizational Culture, Occupational Health and Safety Culture