A Study On Safety Culture And Its Impact In Container Terminals In India

Abstract

Container Terminal Industry is a key player in the Logistics business that involves loading and unloading of Containers at the land side in sea ports using highly mechanized and automated cranes. Shipping of Cargo in containers evolved during the 1950’s which enabled the container ships to carry large quantity of cargo safely to distant countries with minimum intervention of manual labour and with minimum costs. Container Terminals are dynamic system which involves complex safety risks depending on the type of operation and type of cargo or container handled. The present study is about the safety risk involved in Container Terminal Industry and its impact on the employees and organizational performance with reference to four container terminals situated in Mundra (Gujarat), Nhava Sheva (Maharashtra), Cochin (Kerala) and Chennai (Tamilnadu). The container terminals are operated by one of the global leading ports & terminals group called DP World with Head Quarters in Dubai, UAE.

Random sampling method is applied to a sample size of 300 respondents across selected locations working in DP World container terminals. Hypotheses have been framed and tested using multiple regressions. The findings of the study shows that there is correlation between safety culture and organizational performance and provides recommendations and conclusions for further research studies. Statistical tools such as, Independent t-test, ANOVA, Multiple Regression, Correlation and Structural Equation Modeling have been used for analysis.