An investigation of factors influencing leadership style and safety culture development within a sugar mill in South Africa.

Abstract

The study explored factors that influence leadership styles in the development of a safety culture within a South African sugar mill. An examination of the relationship between leadership approaches and safety practices was conducted, together with an exploration into the impact of different leadership styles on employee safety behaviour and overall sugar mill safety culture. There have been several interventions aimed at mitigating safety risks, but there is a lack of understanding regarding the correlation between leadership styles and their effectiveness in fostering a robust safety culture. Transformational and transactional leadership theories underpinned the study and the effects of reducing safety incidents were evaluated. The study's primary objectives were the following; to identify the predominant leadership styles used by leaders in driving a safety culture within the sugar mill, to investigate the factors that influence leadership in driving a safety culture within the sugar mill, analyse the main challenges faced by leaders in fostering and maintaining a safety culture in the sugar mill, to provide strategies for improving leadership styles to enhance the development of a safety culture within the sugar mill. A qualitative research approach was employed, using semi-structured interviews with sixteen key stakeholders, which included first line leaders, middle leaders and senior leaders within the sugar mill. Additionally, secondary data thematic analysis from reputable journals, books and industry reports was utilised to identify patterns and build themes related to leadership styles and safety outcomes. The findings of the study revealed key factors such as communication, employee engagement, training and commitment to continuous improvement as influencing the leadership style and safety culture development. The study’s conclusions provide insights into how leadership styles influence safety culture in the sugar mill industry. The study also covered the importance of transformational leadership in inspiring and encouraging workers to put safety measures in place first and highlighted successes of transactional leadership in ensuring the safety procedures are followed. The research offers useful recommendations for the appropriate enhancement of leadership practices in the sugar mill industry by identifying the critical elements that influence leadership styles and their effect on safety within the sugar mill industry.