Assessing Your Safety Culture: Is it on track?

A strong safety culture is one trait commonly shared by motor carriers that value employee well-being and operational efficiency. But how do you know your efforts to build this culture are on track? Understanding the strength of your culture requires more than just observing employees at work—it’s about gathering data from various sources and quantifying those results to determine if your company is meeting expectations. Here are five effective methods to help you measure your safety culture.

ANNUAL SAFETY PERCEPTION SURVEY

An annual safety perception survey allows employees to provide feedback on their perceptions of safety within the organization. The survey often covers aspects such as management’s commitment to safety, the effectiveness of safety training, and the adequacy of safety resources. By conducting this survey annually, you can track changes in employee perceptions over time, identify trends, and pinpoint areas that need improvement. The results can help determine if management’s perceptions are aligned with employee perceptions.

PULSE SURVEYS

Pulse surveys offer more immediate insights. These short, frequent surveys are designed to capture the current state of safety culture regularly, such as monthly or quarterly. Pulse surveys are handy for monitoring the effectiveness of recent safety initiatives or policy changes. By quickly assessing how employees feel about specific safety aspects, you can consider making timely adjustments and addressing any emerging issues before they become more problematic.

SAFETY OBSERVATION REPORTS

Safety observation reports involve employees and supervisors documenting safety-related behaviors and conditions they observe in the workplace. This method provides real-time data on how safety protocols are followed, highlighting potential hazards that surveys might not capture. Encouraging employee participation helps to foster a culture of vigilance and proactive problem-solving.

NEAR-MISS REPORTING

A near miss is an event that could have resulted in an accident or injury but did not, either by chance or through timely intervention. Encouraging employees to report near misses may provide insights into potential risks and unsafe conditions that might otherwise go unnoticed. A high rate of reporting combined with a low rate of actual incidents often reflects a strong safety culture where employees feel empowered to speak up.

SAFETY CULTURE AUDIT

A safety culture audit thoroughly evaluates the organization’s safety practices, policies, and behaviors. Unlike other methods, which can rely primarily on employee feedback, an internal or external team usually conducts an audit that reviews documentation, observes workplace practices, and interviews employees at various levels. Safety culture audits objectively assess how safety is managed and integrated into daily operations.

CALL TO ACTION

• Consider implementing methods to measure your safety culture.