During an American Society Safety Engineers (ASSE) 2009 session, Robert Pater states “A company’s true safety culture is, for better or worse, what workers default to when they are fatigued, stressed or distracted.” He points out that the workplace’s safety culture can be seen in what employees do when no one is watching. He then goes on to break down four workplace safety cultures he has witnessed at different companies.

Level 1: Forced

• In a forced culture, workplace safety is looked at as an obstacle to making money. It is forced upon employees and in turn causes performance to suffer. Many times employees even rebel against the safety standards. OSHA targets these types of cultures.

Level 2: Protective

• This type of workplace safety culture is one in which management takes care of safety for employees. The work place is “fool proofed” and tends to get new policies and procedures when employees do not follow along. Performance is average in this type of setting.

Level 3: Involved

• In an involved safety culture employees and management work together. Performance is above average but tends to plateau. Many times this causes complacency.

Level 4: Leadership

• Workplace safety is achieved by employees on their own accord. Management is proactive as well and there is emphasis on everyone getting involved. Enthusiasm is important in this type of work place.

I believe that the four types of safety cultures show a true outline of how many corporations operate. When looking at this paradigm it is proactive to look at ways to move up a level. In order for employees to change, management must change as well. You have to practice what you preach and believe that change really is possible. Practice itself is also paramount when it comes to change. Employees have to know how to change and what to change. The last step in turning around a safety program is reinforcing behaviors, good or bad.

Walter, Laura. “Safety 2009-Activating Higher-Level Safety Culture and Performance.” EHS Today.

Filed under: Workplace Safety by Beth Faraci