Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
must.be.managed.like.other.areas.of.the.business..Safety.culture.is.more.than.just.
avoiding. accidents. or. even. reducing. the. number. of. accidents,. although. these. are.
most.likely.the.outcome.or.measurement.of.a.positive.or.successful.safety.culture.
A.positive.safety.culture.is.doing.the.right.thing.at.the.right.time.in.response.to.
normal.or.emergency.operation..The.quality.and.effectiveness.of.training.will.play.
an. important. role. in. determining. the. attitudes. and. performance. toward. safe. pro-
duction.or.performance..These.attitudes.toward.safety.are,.in.a.large.part,.a.mirror.
image.of.the.culture.set.up.by.the.company.or.corporation.
The. key. to. achieving. a. positive. safety. culture. is. recognizing. that. all. accidents.
are.preventable.by.following.correct.procedures.and.established.best.practices,.and.
maintaining.constant.awareness.and.thinking.about.safety.
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It.is.unusual.for.different.types.of.accidents.to.occur.within.an.organization,.and.most.
that.continue.to.occur.after.the.unsafe.condition.has.been.removed.are.the.result.of.unsafe.
acts.or.behaviors..The.unsafe.actions.are.usually.the.result.of.error,.violations.of.best.
practices,.or.disregard.for.established.rules.and.can.be.avoided..Most.often,.those.mak-
ing.such.errors.are.aware.of.their.mistakes..They.take.short-cuts.even.though.they.have.
received.training,.but.fall.prey.to.a.culture.that.allows.workers.to.take.calculated.risks.
The.goal.is.to.have.effectively.trained.workers.who.are.motivated.to.self-regulate.
themselves.and.take.personal.responsibility.to.work.safely.using.the.safest.practices.
where.these.have.become.an.integrated.part.of.the.workers'.value.system.and.com-
pany.culture.
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You. might. ask. yourself. the. following. questions. regarding. the. safety. culture. at. a.
company's.place.of.business.or.operation:
•. Is.health.and.safety.a.top.priority.in.the.organization?
•. Is.safe.work.performance.reinforced,.recognized,.and.rewarded?
•. Are. business. decisions. made. with. safety. and. health. being. given. a. major.
consideration?
•. Is. there. a. requirement. that. safe. and. healthy. attitudes. and. behaviors. are.
expected.of.all.employees,.including.management?
•. Do. employees. feel. comfortable. to. voice. their. concerns. to. management.
regarding.any.hazards.or.safety.issues.about.the.workplace?
•.
Does.peer.pressure.act.as.a.positive.or.a.negative.in.support.of.a.positive.
safety.culture?
•.
Do. production. deadlines. cause. safe. and. healthy. work. practices. to. be.
overlooked?
If.the.safety.culture.does.not.coincide.or.integrate.well.with.the.business.approach.
of.the.organization,.corporation,.or.company,.the.indication.is.that.a.safety.culture.
does.not.or.only.marginally.exists.
