Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
sAFety culture
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Efining
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AfEty
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ulturE
Safety.culture.is.a.concept.deined.at.group.level.or.higher;.it.refers.to.the.shared.
.values. among. all. the. group. or. company,. corporation,. or. organization. members..
Safety.culture.is.concerned.with.formal.safety.issues.in.an.organization.and.is.closely.
related,.but.not.restricted,.to.the.management.and.supervisory.system..Safety.culture.
emphasizes.the.contribution.from.everyone.at.every.level.of.the.organization..The.
safety.culture.of.the.business.entity.has.an.impact.on.all.members.of.the.workforce's.
behavior.at.work..Safety.culture.is.usually.relected.in.the.relationship.between.the.
reward.system.and.safety.performance..A.positive.safety.culture.is.indicative.of.an.
organization's.willingness.to.develop,.change,.and.learn.from.errors,.incidents,.and.
accidents..Safety.culture.is.ingrained,.enduring,.stable,.and.very.resistant.to.change.
In.summary,.safety.culture.is.the.enduring.values.and.priority.placed.on.workers.
and.management.by.everyone.within.the.organization..It.refers.to.the.extent.to.which.
individuals.and.groups.will.commit.to.personal.responsibility.for.safety;.act.to.pre-
serve,.enhance,.and.communicate.safety.concerns;.strive.to.actively.learn,.adapt,.and.
modify. (both. individuals. and. the. organization). behavior. based. on. lessons. learned.
from.mistakes;.and.be.rewarded.in.a.manner.consistent.with.these.values.
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or
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HAnging
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AfEty
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Without. exception,. development. or. change. starts. with. management's. commitment.
by.actions,.not.words..Words.have.no.substance,.but.actions.and.behaviors.have.sub-
stance..During.this.process,.actions.and.development.must.be.maintained.by.a.con-
tinuous,.constant,.and.consistent.effort..It.must.be.worked.at,.a.new.plan.must.exist,.
a.new.approach.must.be.fostered,.and.support.must.be.gained.from.all.involved.
During.development.and.change,.individuals.are.not.merely.encouraged.to.work.
toward.change;.they.must.take.action.when.it.is.needed..Inaction.in.the.face.of.safety.
problems. must. be. unacceptable.. This. will. result. in. pressure. from. all. facets. both.
peers.and.leaders.to.achieve.a.change.of.culture..There.is.no.room.in.the.culture.of.
safety.for.those.who.uselessly.a.point.inger.and.say,.“Safety.is.not.my.responsibility”.
and.ile.a.report.and.turn.their.back.on.helping.to.ix.it.
These.changes.are.contingent.on.leaders.who.are.committed.to.change.and.open.
to. sharing. safety. information.. Open. communication. without. fear. of. reprisal. and.
knowledge. that. action. will. be. taken. when. reported. safety. issues. are. tendered. is. a.
vital.key.to.change.
Senior.management.must.support.and.commit.to.culture.change.by.demonstrating.
commitment.to.safety.by.providing.resources.to.achieve.results..The.message.must.be.
consistent.and.sustained.because.it.takes.a.long.time.to.develop.or.change.a.safety.culture.
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EsCribing
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Safety. culture. is. the. value. put. upon. workplace. safety. and. health. by. an. organiza-
tion,. corporation,. or. company.. The. message. being. communicated. and. espoused.
