Leadership drives Culture

The assessment you have of your company's safety culture may not be entirely accurate. Leaders who have created a strong team usually spread the credit around.

It is worth noting that a good safety culture reflects well on the team's leadership. Leaders should be proud of the team they have assembled. Organizations usually take on the identity of their leaders.

When looking at great/safe teams, there are a few things to note. Leaders should inspire their team to incorporate safety into all efforts. They should also give freedom to recognize and deal with hazards and not just enforce the rules. Safety cops only push compliance and that won't control all risks. Superb leaders should help their team members think beyond themselves and emphasize group success. They should also encourage perpetual learning, take on challenges, analyze risks in new ways, and accept change with a positive attitude. This is the sign of an exceptional leader. Great leaders are passing their character onto the next generation of leaders. Only with a culture of perpetual learning can true safety success be achieved.

It is believed that the increased availability of technology has had a major impact on the lives of people today. Numerous studies demonstrate that the utilization of technology has grown exponentially over the past few decades and the current trend is likely to continue. This rise in technological usage has had both positive and negative effects on people's safety.

Reliance on rigid safety rules written 50 years ago can't possibly provide effective controls for the risks of today. Technology can be used to improve safety, but will never replace solid leadership.

When was the last time you assessed your organization’s culture?