How Does Safety Affect Sustainability? an Empirical Study in the Chemical Industry

The chapter 'How Does Safety Affect Sustainability? An Empirical Study in the Chemical Industry' investigates the crucial relationship between safety and sustainability within the chemical industry. It begins with an introduction underscoring the strategic importance of the chemical industry and its adverse environmental effects. The study focuses on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and the challenges faced in achieving sustainability, particularly the neglect of safety considerations. The research employs a mixed-method approach, combining a systematic literature review and qualitative and quantitative data collection. The initial theoretical framework proposes that safety culture influences safety performance, which in turn affects sustainable production performance, with industrial characteristics acting as a moderating factor. The qualitative phase, involving 19 interviews, validated parts of the framework and identified collective mindfulness as a significant antecedent to safety performance. The study is currently in its quantitative phase, testing hypotheses through an online survey and structural equation modeling. The findings aim to provide deeper insights into the relationship between safety and sustainable production, offering practical implications for the chemical industry.