5. The Effectiveness of Industrial Safety Systems in Reducing Accidents: A Field Study on a Sample of Factories in the Food and Manufacturing Sector in Jordan

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of industrial safety systems in reducing accidents within Jordanian factories. Utilizing a descriptive analytical approach, a 45-item questionnaire was administered to a purposive sample of (100) employees, including workers, engineers, safety supervisors, and administrators within the food and manufacturing sectors. The statistical analysis revealed that the effectiveness of industrial safety systems and the commitment to their standards were exceptionally high across all domains, yielding an overall mean score of (4.77). "Top Management Commitment" ranked first (M = 4.83), followed closely by safety training, whereas workers’ behavioural compliance on the shop floor ranked last (M = 4.72). Crucially, the findings demonstrated that there were no statistically significant differences in the respondents' evaluation of safety system effectiveness attributable to demographic or occupational variables (gender, job title, and years of experience). Conversely, a strong, statistically significant positive correlation was confirmed between the dimensions of safety systems - particularly safety training - and the reduction of industrial accidents. The study recommended that factory managements shift their focus from formal, paper-based regulatory compliance to fostering sustainable safety behaviours among workers on production lines, alongside investing in smart visual monitoring systems to ensure real-time field compliance.

Keywords: Industrial Safety, Occupational Safety Systems, Risk Management, Industrial Accidents, Safety System Effectiveness.