Evaluation and Improvement of Safety Culture

摘要

In understanding the factors that influence safety, a great deal of attention has been focused on the safety culture and climate that exists in organizations. Investigation into a number of recent disasters such as Kings Cross, Piper Alpha and Space Shuttle losses, led to the conclusion that the safety systems had broken down. This was less due to a failure in managing safety, i.e. the policies and procedures in place, and more due to the safety climate and safety culture of the organisation in which the safety management system was placed. The primary aim of safety professionals is to prevent accidents and incidents that could cause injuries, fatalities and disrupt business. This, combined with the recognition that a safe and reliable operation is a profitable one, has led many to consider the nature of the safety climate and culture. In particular there is a question as to how it can be evaluated and improved. This paper presents and discusses some of the key concepts and addressing the vital question of how safety culture and climate can be measured and improved.