Tag: training

Safety Culture- Performance Indicators

An EHS colleague reached out to me on Safety Culture Performance Indicator. Hence this post.

Why Safety Culture is Important element? Why Safety Culture Performance indicator Matter?

Safety culture is paramount for several reasons, and having effective safety culture performance indicators serves as a crucial enabler in advancing safety performance. Here’s a breakdown:

Importance of Safety Culture:

  1. Employee Well-being:
    • Ensures the physical and mental well-being of employees by promoting a safe work environment.
  2. Organizational Reputation:
    • A strong safety culture enhances the organization’s reputation and credibility, attracting talent and business partners.
  3. Legal Compliance:
    • Fosters compliance with safety regulations and standards, mitigating legal risks and potential liabilities.
  4. Productivity and Efficiency:
    • Reduces accidents and disruptions, leading to improved productivity and operational efficiency.
  5. Cost Reduction:
    • Minimizes costs associated with accidents, injuries, and potential lawsuits.
  6. Employee Engagement:
    • Boosts employee morale and engagement by demonstrating that their safety is a top priority.

Role of Safety Culture Performance Indicators:

  1. Measuring Progress:
    • Indicators offer tangible metrics to measure the organization’s progress in building and sustaining a strong safety culture.
  2. Identifying Weaknesses:
    • Highlight areas that need improvement, enabling targeted interventions.
  3. Leadership Visibility:
    • Provides leadership with visible and quantifiable data on safety initiatives, facilitating informed decision-making.
  4. Employee Awareness:
    • Raises awareness among employees about the importance of safety and their role in its success.
  5. Continuous Improvement:
    • Acts as a tool for continuous improvement, allowing organizations to adapt and enhance safety practices over time.
  6. Accountability:
    • Creates accountability by setting clear expectations and standards, with indicators serving as measurable benchmarks.
  7. Demonstrating Commitment:
    • Publicly displays the organization’s commitment to safety, both internally and externally.
  8. Risk Mitigation:
    • Enables proactive identification and mitigation of potential risks before they escalate into incidents.
  9. Cultural Transformation:
    • Supports the cultural transformation needed for sustained safety excellence.
  10. Benchmarking and Best Practices:
    • Facilitates benchmarking against industry standards and the adoption of best practices.
  11. Feedback Loop:
    • Establishes a feedback loop, encouraging continuous communication between management and employees regarding safety performance.

In essence, safety culture performance indicators serve as a compass, guiding organizations in their journey toward a safer and healthier workplace. By regularly assessing these indicators, organizations can gauge the effectiveness of their safety culture initiatives, address weaknesses, and continually enhance their safety performance.

Key Safety Culture Indicators (Not an Exhaustive List). Please note Indicators can be both Qualitative and Quantitative (Metric). Please refer to my post on Indicators and Metric for an explanation.


  1. Leadership Commitment
    • Indicator: Presence of a clear safety vision and mission statement.
    • Indicator: Leadership participation in safety initiatives.
    • Indicator: Allocation of resources for safety programs.
  2. Employee Involvement
    • Indicator: Employee participation in safety committees or meetings.
    • Indicator: Number of safety suggestions or observations submitted by employees.
    • Indicator: Participation in safety training programs.
  3. Communication Effectiveness
    • Indicator: Regularity and clarity of safety communications.
    • Indicator: Openness of communication channels for reporting safety concerns.
    • Indicator: Utilization of multiple communication channels (meetings, posters, emails) for safety messages.
  4. Safety Training and Competence
    • Indicator: Percentage of employees who have completed required safety training.
    • Indicator: Competency assessments for critical safety tasks.
    • Indicator: Frequency of safety refresher courses.
  5. Incident Reporting and Investigation
    • Indicator: Timeliness of incident reporting.
    • Indicator: Thoroughness of incident investigations.
    • Indicator: Implementation of corrective actions following incidents.
  6. Safety Perception Surveys
    • Indicator: Regular administration of safety perception surveys.
    • Indicator: Trends in survey responses over time.
    • Indicator: Action plans based on survey feedback.
  7. Near-Miss Reporting
    • Indicator: Number of near-miss reports.
    • Indicator: Analysis of near-miss trends.
    • Indicator: Implementation of preventive measures based on near-miss data.
  8. Safety Compliance
    • Indicator: Compliance with safety regulations and standards.
    • Indicator: Results of internal and external safety audits.
    • Indicator: Number of safety violations or non-compliance instances.
  9. Continuous Improvement Initiatives
    • Indicator: Number of implemented improvements from employee suggestions.
    • Indicator: Participation in continuous improvement programs.
    • Indicator: Regular review and update of safety policies and procedures.
  10. Benchmarking Against Industry Standards
    • Indicator: Comparison of safety performance with industry benchmarks.
    • Indicator: Participation in industry safety benchmarking programs.
    • Indicator: Recognition or awards received for safety achievements.

Here’s a laundry list of safety culture indicators across various categories:

Organization and Leadership:

  1. Safety Mission and Values:
    • Presence of a documented safety mission and values statement.
  2. Policy Development:
    • Existence of comprehensive safety policies and procedures.
  3. Resource Allocation:
    • Allocation of budget and resources specifically for safety initiatives.
  4. Safety Committees:
    • Formation and active participation of safety committees.
  5. Management Engagement:
    • Demonstrated commitment of top management to safety.

Performance Metrics:

  1. Incident Rate:
    • Frequency and severity of reported incidents.
  2. Near-Miss Reporting:
    • Number and quality of reported near-miss incidents.
  3. Lost Time Injury Rate:
    • Frequency and duration of injuries leading to lost work time.
  4. Safety Observations:
    • Regularity of safety observations and feedback.

Communication:

  1. Safety Communication:
    • Clarity and frequency of safety communications.
  2. Two-Way Communication:
    • Openness and effectiveness of communication channels.

Training and Competence:

  1. Training Completion Rates:
    • Percentage of employees completing required safety training.
  2. Competency Assessments:
    • Regular assessments of employees’ competency in safety tasks.

Accountability and Recognition:

  1. Accountability Measures:
    • Implementation of consequences for safety violations.
  2. Recognition Programs:
    • Existence of programs recognizing safety achievements.

Trust and Empowerment:

  1. Trust in Reporting:
    • Employee trust in the confidentiality of reporting incidents.
  2. Empowerment Programs:
    • Initiatives empowering employees to take an active role in safety.

Continuous Improvement:

  1. Continuous Improvement Initiatives:
    • Number and impact of implemented improvements.
  2. Feedback Mechanisms:
    • Systems in place for employees to provide continuous feedback.

Benchmarking and Industry Recognition:

  1. Benchmarking Participation:
    • Involvement in industry benchmarking programs.
  2. Recognition and Awards:
    • Receipt of industry recognition or safety awards.

Organizational Learning:

  1. Incident Investigation Effectiveness:
    • Thoroughness and quality of incident investigations.
  2. Adaptation of Best Practices:
    • Implementation of best practices from the industry.

Employee Well-being:

  1. Well-being Programs:
    • Existence and effectiveness of programs promoting overall employee well-being.
  2. Work-Life Balance:
    • Policies supporting a healthy work-life balance.

Karthik

15th Jan 2023.

Everything Works, Until It Doesn’t.

As I set out on my morning walk, my faithful companion wasn’t just the rising sun or the cool 14Cel. Bangalore breeze—it was Todd Conklin’s 3 minute podcast echoing through my Airpods. In those fleeting moments, amidst the serenity of nature, one thought struck a chord and lingered: “Everything works until it doesn’t.”

Those five simple words, articulated by Conklin in his concise yet profound podcast, encapsulated a truth that resonated deeply with my ethos as an advocate for safety and wellbeing in workplaces. As an EHS professional with years of experience navigating the intricate landscape of safety protocols and risk management, this principle isn’t just a concept—it’s a guiding light.

This principle reverberates beyond the industrial realm—it mirrors the fabric of our daily lives. In a world where routines seem reliable and systems appear foolproof, it’s all too easy to slip into a state of complacency. But as Conklin’s succinct insight highlighted, the veneer of reliability can shatter in an instant.

In my journey as a safety consultant and a fervent believer in proactive risk mitigation, I’ve encountered instances where seemingly infallible safety measures encountered unforeseen vulnerabilities. Each scenario, each challenge, reinforces the undeniable truth embedded in Conklin’s words.

Join me in this exploration—a journey that transcends the boundaries of workplace safety to touch upon the very essence of preparedness in our homes, communities, and personal lives. Together, let’s delve into the depth of this principle and unravel its implications on safety, seeking insights to fortify our commitment to proactive risk management.

Let’s delve into workplace situations and personal scenarios where this holds good:

Workplace Situations:

Emergency Response Plan: Consider an office emergency response plan. Everything seems well-organized until an actual emergency occurs, revealing gaps in evacuation procedures or inadequate emergency supplies.

Equipment Maintenance: A manufacturing unit’s machines might seem reliable until a critical piece of equipment fails unexpectedly due to lack of regular maintenance.

Software Security: An organization might have robust cybersecurity protocols, yet a new software vulnerability emerges, highlighting the need for continuous updates and monitoring.

Personal Scenarios:

Home Security System: Your home security system might function flawlessly until a power outage exposes vulnerabilities in backup systems or connectivity issues.

Vehicle Maintenance: A well-maintained car might suddenly encounter a breakdown due to a part failure, emphasizing the need for regular servicing despite apparent reliability.

Health and Wellness: Personal health routines can also reflect this principle. Following a healthy lifestyle might seem foolproof until stress or unforeseen health issues challenge your immunity or well-being.

In both spheres, the idea remains constant: what appears seamless can unravel unexpectedly, necessitating preparedness and continuous improvement to mitigate potential risks.

Now focsuing to workspace:

This is a powerful principle and certainly relevant to workplace safety. The core idea is acknowledging that systems and processes might seem flawless until they encounter a failure. To extend this,in maintaining safe conditions at work:

  1. Constant Vigilance: Acknowledge that even well-established safety protocols can fail. Regularly assess, update, and improve safety measures. What works today might not be foolproof tomorrow.
  2. Adaptability and Learning: Encourage a culture where teams are proactive in identifying potential weaknesses in safety systems. Promote reporting near-misses or potential hazards to continuously learn and evolve safety practices.
  3. Scenario Planning: Anticipate potential failure points. Conduct risk assessments, scenario planning, and stress testing to identify weak spots and strengthen safety measures accordingly.
  4. Training and Awareness: Ensure that all employees are well-trained and aware of safety protocols. Continuous training programs can reinforce safety measures and help prevent complacency.
  5. Regular Audits and Reviews: Implement regular audits and reviews of safety protocols. These should be thorough and critical, aiming to spot even the smallest potential for failure.
  6. Feedback Loop: Foster an environment where feedback is welcomed and acted upon. Employees at the ground level often have valuable insights into potential safety risks that may be overlooked.
  7. Technological Integration: Embrace technological advancements for safety. Tools like sensors, AI-driven monitoring, and data analytics can detect and prevent potential safety issues.

Remember, in the realm of safety, the mantra should be: “Everything works until it doesn’t, and it’s our responsibility to anticipate when that might happen and prevent it.”

How organisations can stay on top of this aspect! (Appicable to every business domain) Learning from Incidents as a post mortem to improve performance.


  1. Root Cause Analysis:     Delve into incidents where safety measures failed unexpectedly. Explore how conducting thorough root cause analyses revealed underlying factors that led to the breakdown, emphasizing the importance of looking beyond the surface. Use 5 Why Methods with 6M (Man, Machine, Method, Measure, Mileu, Material) as tool. Learn and Implement preventive measures.
  2. Human Factors: Discuss the role of human error or complacency in instances where safety systems faltered. Highlighting the need for robust training, awareness, and a proactive safety culture to mitigate human-related risks.
  3. Complexity and Interconnectedness: Explore how systems become vulnerable due to their intricate nature. Showcase examples where an unexpected failure in one part of a system cascaded into larger safety issues, emphasizing the importance of understanding interconnectedness. (Challenger, Columbia, Chernobyl).
  4. Risk Mitigation Strategies: Offer insights into effective risk mitigation strategies. Discuss proactive measures like scenario planning, regular audits, continuous improvement, and the integration of technological advancements in safety protocols.
  5. Culture of Continuous Improvement: Highlight the significance of fostering a culture that values continuous improvement. Share success stories where organizations embraced a mindset of learning from failures to strengthen their safety measures. (Amazon Firephone, SpaceX Early launch failures, Toyota Recalls 2009)
  6. Adaptability and Preparedness: Discuss the necessity of being adaptive and prepared for unforeseen circumstances. Illustrate scenarios where adaptability and preparedness prevented potential safety hazards from escalating. (Ford Pinto 1970s, Improper Risk Assessment for safety concerns, and then corrections!).
  7. Personal Accountability: Stress the importance of personal accountability in ensuring safety. Encourage individuals at all levels to take responsibility for their actions and be vigilant in upholding safety protocols.

By exploring these facets in-depth, organisations can get comprehensive insights into why and how “everything works until it doesn’t” and work solutions.

Conclusion:

In the tapestry of safety and risk management, the thread of “everything works until it doesn’t” weaves a narrative that transcends mere caution—it speaks to the essence of preparedness and resilience. As we traverse through the complexities of workplaces and personal spheres, this principle stands as a sentinel, reminding us that vigilance, adaptability, and a culture of continuous improvement are the bedrock of safety. Each failure, each unforeseen challenge, is an opportunity not just to recover but to fortify our defenses. Let us embrace this truth not with fear but with a resolve to evolve, to learn, and to persist in our commitment to ensuring safety, both in the hallowed halls of industries and within the sanctuaries of our homes. For it is not the inevitability of failure that defines us, but our response to it—our unwavering dedication to making safety a steadfast companion on our journey through work and life.

Karthik

4th Jan 2024.