EXTENDED SUMMARY

Introduction

Every year, more than three million people worldwide lose their lives due to occupational accidents and diseases (International Labour Organization, 2023). This situation highlights that occupational health and safety (OHS) is a critical global issue. Workplace accidents have adverse effects on the labor market and economic growth. In Turkey, 681,401 workplace accidents were reported in 2023, resulting in the loss of 1,966 lives (SGK Statistical Yearbook, 2023). The occupational fatality rate per 100,000 employees in Turkey is 6.22, whereas this rate is 1.66 in Europe (Eurostat, 2022). These statistics underscore the necessity of enhancing OHS awareness and strengthening preventive measures in Turkey. Preventing workplace accidents and improving employee health is not only a legal obligation but also a strategic factor that enhances productivity and motivation in workplaces. Employees’ level of knowledge, attitudes, and safety culture regarding OHS directly influence the effectiveness of OHS policies. Awareness levels determine compliance with safety procedures and risk perception, while continuous OHS training contributes significantly to accident prevention.

This study examines the impact of OHS awareness on employee motivation. Employees who feel protected from workplace risks and assured of their health are more focused on their tasks and exhibit increased motivation. A safe and healthy work environment reinforces employees’ sense of security, reducing stress and promoting psychological well-being (Sunarjo and Amin, 2024:2303).

A review of the literature reveals that studies on the impact of OHS awareness on employee motivation—particularly in the context of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation—are limited. Additionally, no studies have specifically focused on the province of Ardahan, which constitutes the unique contribution of this research. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between OHS awareness levels and motivation among employees and business owners in enterprises operating in Ardahan. By doing so, it aims to outline the dynamics between these two variables and provide a framework for local labor market dynamics.

The study investigates the following primary hypothesis, along with six sub-hypotheses examining the relationships between the sub-dimensions of the variables:

H1: OHS awareness positively affects employee motivation.

Methodology

The study population consists of employees working in various sectors in the province of Ardahan. According to the Turkish Employment Agency’s Labor Market Survey Report for Ardahan (Türkiye İş Kurumu, 2023), there are 9,084 employees in the region. Based on a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error, the required sample size was calculated as 369 (Surveymonkey, 2024). A total of 384 valid surveys were included in the analysis.

A structured questionnaire comprising three sections was developed and administered as the data collection tool. The first section included demographic questions. The second section measured participants’ OHS awareness levels using the “OHS Awareness Scale,” developed by Pehlivan (2016), which consists of three dimensions and 20 items. The third section assessed employee motivation levels using a scale based on previous studies (Mottaz, 1985; Brislin et al., 2005; Mahaney and Lederer, 2006) and adapted by Dündar et al. (2007). This scale consists of 24 items, categorized into intrinsic (9 items) and extrinsic (15 items) motivation dimensions. Items in the second and third sections were structured using a five-point Likert scale.

Descriptive statistics, including demographic data, means, and standard deviations, were used in the analysis. The scale data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), followed by regression analysis. All analyses were conducted using Jamovi 2.4 software with the SEMLj extension package (Gallucci and Jentschke, 2021; Jamovi, 2023).

Results

Following reliability and validity analyses, regression analyses were conducted to test the study hypotheses. The results indicate that participants’ OHS awareness levels have a statistically significant and positive effect on their motivation. Moreover, employees’ intrinsic motivation is significantly influenced by the sub-dimensions of OHS awareness, namely training and safety awareness, as well as OHS consciousness (F=306; p<0.001). Specifically, training and safety awareness affect intrinsic motivation at β=0.530 (p<0.001), while OHS consciousness has an effect at β=0.305 (p<0.001). These findings confirm that, in enhancing employees’ intrinsic motivation, training and safety awareness are more influential factors than OHS consciousness.

Additionally, participants’ extrinsic motivation is significantly affected by all sub-dimensions of OHS awareness (F=328; p<0.05). Training and safety awareness impact extrinsic motivation at β=0.481 (p<0.001), OHS consciousness at β=0.264 (p<0.001), and avoidance of fatalism at β=0.144 (p<0.05). These results indicate that the most influential factor in increasing employees’ extrinsic motivation is training and safety awareness, while the least influential factor is avoidance of fatalism.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Future Research: Expanding the study in broader contexts with additional variables is expected to contribute to the existing body of knowledge in the field.

Recommendations for Businesses: The findings suggest that businesses should place greater emphasis on the OHS concept. Therefore, increasing investments in OHS training and raising awareness to counter fatalistic perspectives are deemed essential.

Recommendations for Policymakers: Government institutions, occupational safety inspection bodies, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security should expand the mandatory scope of OHS training to include all risk categories. Furthermore, raising awareness that workplace accidents are preventable, increasing OHS inspections, and implementing incentive mechanisms are crucial. Additionally, incorporating OHS culture into educational curricula from an early age is recommended to ensure its widespread adoption.