SA-002-00: Safety Culture (National Regulations – regulation 17, schedule 1 cl 1-3)
Safety Culture is not easily defined but can be described as “The way that we do things around here” when we think about safety.
Safety culture is a measure of behaviour and attitude and is aligned with cultural values and beliefs. A consistent commitment to safety must be a priority for rail safety workers, volunteers and contractors who undertake work on the OTHR Network, regardless of their role.
The OTHR Management Committee, Managers and Supervisors will develop and encourage a strong positive safety culture through strong leadership and a demonstrated commitment to safety.
A strong positive safety culture is usually led from the top and this results from strong leadership and the commitment from senior roles and has some key components:
- Focus on safety leadership and commitment;
- Role of managers in safety
- Consultation and communication with all persons who are impacted by safety;
- Encouraging open and honest communication and feedback without recourse;
- Actively considering the behaviour of people and the impacts of those behaviours (human factors);
- Seeking and recognising opportunities for safety improvement, and
- A willingness to devote resources to safety.
Safety culture is only one component of a SMS but underpins and reinforces the necessary behaviours of everyone who works in the organisation. Without a positive safety culture, the SMS will become ineffective, and incidents and accidents will increase.
OTHR Associated Documents:
SA-002-01-Safety Culture Procedure
Last updated: July 24, 2021 at 15:10 pm