How to Measure Safety Culture in the Workplace

The safety culture is crucial for any company concerned about the health of its employees. It includes attitudes and behaviors related to risk prevention at work, as well as aspects such as art and territory. Assessing this culture is essential for improving overall safety performance.

The Institute for an Industrial Safety Culture (Icsi), with its 20 years of experience, offers a 5-step method to enhance safety culture. This approach takes into account the factors influencing the sustainability of businesses, with safety as a fundamental pillar.

The diagnosis of safety culture allows for determining an organization's maturity in terms of safety. It involves analyzing internal documents, conducting surveys, and making field observations. This assessment involves all stakeholders in the company, from management to operational teams.

The results of the diagnosis serve as a basis for a collective improvement approach. The goal is to identify levers for action to strengthen the risk prevention and safety performance of the company.

Understanding the Foundations of Safety Culture

Safety culture is essential for any company concerned about the well-being of its employees and its performance. It includes the values, attitudes, and behaviors related to safety within the organization.

Definition and Importance of Safety Culture

Safety culture encompasses the practices, beliefs, and values shared within a company regarding safety. It aims to create an environment where everyone feels responsible for their safety and that of others. Its importance is critical: 74% of data breaches are related to human factors, highlighting the need for a strong safety culture.

Key Components of a Strong Safety Culture

The essential safety culture components include:

• Visible commitment from management
• Ongoing training for employees
• Open communication about risks
• Active participation from teams
• Recognition of safety efforts

It is crucial to note that learners forget 90% of what they have been taught within the first seven days, hence the importance of regular reminders and ongoing training.

The Impact on Company Performance

The impact of safety culture on company performance is significant. A strong safety culture allows for:

A robust safety culture creates a virtuous circle where safety and performance reinforce each other. This contributes to the overall competitiveness of the company.

The Bradley Curve: An Essential Assessment Tool

The Bradley Curve, created in 1995 by Berlin Bradley of DuPont, is an essential tool for assessing the safety culture maturity of a company. It highlights four safety culture stages, allowing organizations to locate their progress. It also helps identify areas needing improvement.

The Four Stages of Safety Culture Maturity

The Bradley Curve defines four distinct stages:

• Reactive: Safety based on instinct and post-incident reactions
• Dependent: Safety based on rules and monitoring
• Independent: Employee self-responsibility for safety
• Interdependent: Safety perceived as a shared value

How to Identify Your Level on the Curve

To determine your position on the Bradley Curve, observe the predominant attitudes towards accidents. Also, examine employee motivation and leadership style. A staff survey can provide valuable insights into organizational culture analysis and the current safety culture.

Key Progress Indicators

Several indicators allow for measuring the evolution of safety culture maturity:

The goal is to progress towards a culture where safety is a value shared by all. This requires continuous commitment and strong employee motivation.

How to Measure Safety Culture

Measuring safety culture is essential to ensure a risk-free working environment. Companies use various assessment tools to evaluate their performance. These tools help identify areas needing improvement.

Diagnostic and Assessment Tools

Anonymized questionnaires are frequently used to explore professionals' attitudes towards safety. These tools assess the four pillars of safety culture, according to James Reason: the ability to report, feedback, just culture, and teamwork.

Quantitative and Qualitative Indicators

Quantitative indicators include the accident rate and the number of training sessions. Qualitative indicators, on the other hand, assess employee perception and management engagement. These measures are crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of safety policies.

Data Collection Methods

Companies use surveys, audits, and incident report analysis to collect data. These methods assess knowledge of best practices and adherence to safety measures. Regular evaluation is crucial for measuring progress and maintaining a safe working environment.

The Role of Leadership in Safety Culture

Safety leadership is fundamental to creating a robust safety culture in companies. It is essential for management to fully commit to encouraging safe and responsible practices. Managers must serve as examples in risk prevention and best practices.

Ivan Boissières, general director of Icsi, highlights 7 essential principles for effective safety leadership:

• Create a clear safety vision
• Share this vision with all employees
• Prioritize safety in decision-making
• Be present in the field
• Foster teamwork and cooperation
• Recognize best practices
• Be credible and exemplary

The exemplary behavior of managers is essential for building a trusting relationship with the team. Employees must feel supported and protected to freely express their safety concerns. Strong safety leadership allows transcending mere compliance, integrating a genuine safety culture at all levels of the company.

To enhance their leadership, managers can benefit from specialized training and tools such as field observations or feedback sessions. The goal is to make risk prevention the core of the company's strategy and decisions.

Organizational and Human Factors

Human safety factors are fundamental in building a robust safety culture within companies. They form one of the three essential pillars, complementing technical reliability and management systems. Integrating these elements is crucial for improving safety performance and encouraging safe behaviors.

Employee Involvement

Employee involvement is essential for building a strong safety culture. This involves raising awareness, training, and empowering each team member. Concrete initiatives focused on organizational and human aspects can reinforce this involvement. François Fournier from Force Ouvrière emphasizes the importance of placing humans at the center of safety systems.

Communication and Social Dialogue

Effective communication regarding safety is vital within the company. It allows for sharing experiences and transmitting essential information. Social dialogue on safety issues should be encouraged to establish an environment where everyone feels responsible for their own safety and that of others.

Safety Management Systems

Safety management systems must be integrated into the company's processes and supported by appropriate tools. They focus on four key areas:

• The individual
• Work situations
• The collective
• Organization and management

Evaluation of Safety Behaviors and Attitudes

Evaluating safety behaviors is crucial for developing a strong safety culture. It relies on two essential pillars: field observation and incident analysis.

Observation of Practices in the Field

Field observation allows for a concrete evaluation of safety behaviors on a daily basis. This method involves observing employees in their work environment to identify best practices and areas for improvement.

• Organize regular safety visits
• Train observers to spot risky behaviors
• Encourage dialogue with employees about their practices

Analysis of Incident Feedback

The analysis of incidents is essential for learning lessons and making progress. Employees should be encouraged to report any issues without fear of sanctions. This helps identify weaknesses and implement corrective actions.

By combining field observation and incident analysis, companies can effectively evaluate their safety culture. The goal is to create a learning environment where each incident becomes an opportunity for progress.

Levers for Improving Safety Culture

Improving safety culture relies on several crucial pillars. Safety training is a key element. It equips employees with the skills to identify and avoid hazards at work.

A successful safety program requires total commitment from management. Research shows that safety-focused companies are more productive and profitable. This link between safety and performance is undeniable.

The SMART-Safety method, developed by Fullmark, has reduced accidents by 50% for many clients. This approach, structured over several years, aims to integrate safety principles into daily habits while considering cultural heritage in Africa.

Employee involvement is fundamental. Participatory methods such as observing work situations and conducting interviews help identify real risks. Transparent communication about progress and social dialogue are also vital.

• Set realistic prevention objectives
• Regularly evaluate actions with relevant indicators
• Continuously train employees
• Individually support managers

By adopting these strategies, companies can establish a strong safety culture. This also includes cultural adaptation in the workplace, which reduces accidents and improves overall performance.

Conclusion

A sustainable safety culture is essential for the success of a company. It transcends mere risk prevention, making each employee an active participant in safety. In France, the health sector still has progress to make: 6.2 serious adverse events per 1000 hospitalization days, one-third of which are avoidable.

Tools like the HSOPSC questionnaire are essential for assessing this culture. They examine 10 crucial dimensions, from safety perception to management support. Massive participation is essential to obtain an accurate picture. In the industry, the accident rate remains a key indicator, with an average of 24 in France, varying by sector.

However, these figures should not be the only criteria. A sustainable safety culture is built over time, with the commitment of all. It requires a comprehensive approach, including training, communication, and involvement at all levels. By investing in this culture, companies enhance the protection of their employees, their competitiveness, and their resilience.