Workaholism Components and Occupational Safety among Norwegian Oil Rig Workers

Year 2010, Volume: 12 Issue: 2, 25 - 40, 01.06.2010

Ronald J. Burke Stig B. Matheisen Stale Einarsen Lisa Fiksenbaum

Abstract

Purpose -This research examined the relationship of workaholism components identified by Spence and Robbins (1992) and perceptions of risk at work, occupational health and safety values and practices, accidents and “near miss” accidents at work. Three workaholism components were considered: work involvement, feeling driven to work because of inner pressures, and work enjoyment. Design/methodology/approach - Data were collected from 1017 Norwegian workers on oil rigs in the North Sea using questionnaires, a 59% response rate. Findings - Oil rig workers scoring higher on feeling driven to work indicated higher levels of perceived risk, rated the safety climate less favorably and reported more “near miss” accidents. Oil rig workers scoring higher on work enjoyment reported lower risk perceptions and a more favorable occupation safety and health climate. Finally, oil rig workers scoring higher on work involvement indicated less positive perceptions of health and safety values and practices but fewer “near miss” accidents at work. Research limitations/implications –All data were collected using worker self-reports at one point in time making an examination of causality difficult. Practical implications - These findings are consistent with recent evidence highlighting the role of individual factors in predicting accidents at work. Originality/value- Extends our understanding of workplace accidents by incorporating new stable individual characteristics.

Keywords

Workhalism components, safety climate, risks, accidents

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