Investigation of factors affecting the risk-taking behavior of employees in the forest products sector (case of TR42 level 2 region)

Occupational accidents and occupational diseases are an important health and safety problem in the forest products sector. In this respect, understanding the risk-taking behaviors of employees in enterprises operating in the forest products sector plays an important role in eliminating such problems. The aim of this study is to relate the factors that affect the risk-taking behavior of employees in the forest products sector by using the Structural Equation Model (SEM). Within the scope of the study, risk-taking behaviors of blue-collar (employee) and white-collar (manager) employees, individual factors of employees (attitude towards risk, cognitive bias and risk perception), organizational factors (safety climate, work stress and safety training) and workplace factors (working conditions and use of personal protective equipment) were examined. The questionnaire developed by the researcher was used in the analysis of the risk-taking behaviors of the employees and it was applied to 687 employees in 64 enterprises operating in the forest products industry operating in the TR42 Level 2 Region (Duzce, Bolu, Sakarya, Kocaeli and Yalova). Ten hypotheses were created to determine the relationship between individual, organizational and workplace factors of employees and risk-taking behavior. A research model has been developed that defines these 10 hypotheses. The results showed that 7 of these 10 hypotheses were accepted. It showed that organizational and workplace factors have a significant negative effect on the risk-taking behavior of employees and that risk taking tendency will decrease by improving these factors. It has been determined that individual factors do not have a significant effect on the risk-taking behavior of employees. This study can help industry managers and decision makers in what kind of way should be followed in order to improve occupational safety performances in enterprises.