The expression ‘Safety Culture’ generates a buzz in workplaces across Australia, typically advocated by WHS Managers, but too often, the term is thrown around without sufficient education or training. As a result, people are left misinformed, confused and disengaged, which creates a significant hazard for risk management.
Understanding exactly what Safety Culture is and what influences your organization’s culture can significantly contribute to changing employee attitudes and behaviours concerning workplace health and safety.
So, what is safety culture all about?
According to one of the world’s leading authorities in Behavioural Safety, Dr. Dominic Cooper, it’s about the perceptions, beliefs, behaviour and management systems that combine to form an organisation’s ‘safety culture.’
Culture is the atmosphere created by those beliefs and attitudes which shape behaviour and human factors.
An organisations safety culture is the result of several factors, such as:
- Management and employee norms, assumptions, beliefs and attitudes
- Organisation Values, myths, stories
- Policies and procedures
- Supervisor priorities, responsibilities and accountability
- Production and bottom-line pressures vs. quality issues
- Actions or lack of action to correct unsafe behaviours
- Worker training and motivation
- Worker involvement or “buy-in.”
Good safety management is good business management.
How do you engage your employees in risk management?
Some organisations are starting to “get it,” but of course, lots of companies still fall behind and might not believe in the power of engagement. It’s possible that they don’t see the dollar value, or maybe they don’t care.
Worker engagement should be high on the to-do list when aiming to create buy-in, increasing an individual’s understanding of work health and safety outcomes associated with their decisions, behaviours and actions. Each organisation will differ, but it can be as simple as gently reminding your colleagues and employees or as complex as utilising a workplace health and safety program.
Posters are a great, simple way to enhance or initiate a safety culture within your organisation. Make your employees aware of how to make lower-risk decision controls, and reduce the risk of injury in your workplace.
You can also get in contact with our Safety Team to see how we can assist with implementing a positive safety behavioural program within your organisation!
Our services are available in multiple locations nationwide. For more information, contact us.
Alternatively, our consultants love to have a chat, so go ahead and give us a call on 1300 OHS RTW (647 789) or email enquiries@rrp.com.au
Disclaimer – these articles are provided to supply general safety information to people responsible for OHS in their organisation. They are general in nature and do not substitute for legal and/or professional advice. We always suggest that organisations obtain information specific to their needs. Additional information can be found at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/