A Structured Review oF Occupational Health AND Safety Literature: Insights FROM THE Tccm Framework

Abstract

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) has emerged as a critical area of inquiry within organizational behaviour and human resource management, particularly in the context of dynamic industrial environments and increasing psychosocial risks. This systematic literature review (SLR) synthesizes 60 peer-reviewed empirical studies selected from an initial pool of 301 articles indexed in Scopus and related databases. The review applies the TCCM framework—encompassing Theory, Context, Characteristics, and Methodology—to analyse and classify the literature comprehensively.

The findings reveal that research in OHS has largely been driven by behavioural and psychological theories such as the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, Social Exchange Theory, and Safety Climate Theory. Empirical studies predominantly focus on organizational contexts in developing economies, with manufacturing, healthcare, and construction sectors receiving the most attention. Characteristics analysis shows a concentration on human resource practices (e.g., High-Performance Work Systems, safety training), leadership styles, and job design as independent variables, while dependent outcomes center around safety compliance, employee well-being, engagement, and turnover intention. Mediating variables like psychological empowerment and perceived organizational support (POS) play a crucial role in explaining the mechanisms through which HRM practices impact employee safety behaviour. Moderating variables, although less frequent, introduce nuance by highlighting contingency factors such as gender, tenure, and industry type. Methodologically, the field relies heavily on cross-sectional survey designs, with limited application of longitudinal or mixed methods approaches.

The review identifies significant gaps, including the underutilization of advanced theories, over-reliance on quantitative approaches, and limited exploration of mediating/moderating mechanisms. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by mapping current research trends, highlighting theoretical and methodological imbalances, and proposing a future research agenda emphasizing interdisciplinary integration, longitudinal analysis, and context-sensitive frameworks.