Safety Preparedness in the Oil and Gas Industry: A Psychological Assessment of Factors Affecting Employee Intentions and Behaviors Towards Emergency Response

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Abstract
This study expanded the theory of planned behavior to understand factors affecting employee intentions and actual preparedness behaviors in the Ghanaian energy sector. The paper ascertained the effect of psychological factors on employee preparedness intentions and examined whether these factors are mediated by employee’s intentions. Instruments were developed to collect data to assess the variables of the extended theory of planned behavior. Items on the instruments to be measured were structured into three major sections; demographic information on the first part, items of attitude, response efficacy, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intention, risk perception, and actual preparedness behaviors on the second part and items of management commitment and management priority on the last section. A pilot test was performed on 15 employees of a sub Gas Distribution Station to determine validity and reliability of the instruments. Content validity was assessed through expert judgment. Individuals with expertise in the field of psychology examined the questionnaires and provided feedback. The instruments were self-administered and data analyzed using the structural equation modelling technique. The novel extended TPB model best-explained employee preparedness intentions and actual emergency preparedness behaviours of employees, confirming the widely held perception that psychological factors do influence employee preparedness intentions. It further suggest employee’s intentions significantly mediate relationship between psychological factors and actual preparedness behaviors. Management must periodically appraise the impact of these factors on employee’s preparedness to make timely informed decisions and may adopt the expanded model to promote employee preparedness for emergencies in the oil and gas industry.

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