*2.6. Responsible Leadership as Moderator for Safety Climate and Safety Performance*

Leaders demonstrate normatively appropriate conduct through personal actions and interpersonal relationships and promote such conduct to subordinates through two-way communication, reinforcement, and decision-making [72]. Rare evidence is available for responsible leaders influencing the safety outcomes. However, this mechanism can be explained as responsible leadership being characterized as involving stakeholders in decision-making and looking after their demands. Moreover, he has an idea of the consequences of his decisions on the stakeholders. This enables the employees to get involved in the safety procedures and they conduct periodic checks on the execution of the prevention plans. Furthermore, they participate in evaluating the risks. This premise is based on the social exchange theory. The positive exchanges taking place between the leader and the employees lead to compliance as a matter of showing gratitude. The hypothesis developed is:

**Hypothesis 6.** *Responsible leadership significantly moderates the relationship between safety climate and safety performance*.
