Abstract
Since the introduction of the concept of culture in the safety domain, much effort has been put into its assessment. Such assessments are typically carried out to come to a diagnosis and, possibly, a culture improvement. While the relationship between culture and behavior remains ambiguous and the odds of steering a culture into a desirable direction are equally uncertain, the development process of culture might offer more solace. Skipping the assessment altogether, the process offers both cultural insight and opportunities to influence the culture more towards a culture for safety. To establish such a culture, it is important that people can voice their concerns and share information openly.
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Notes
- 1.
In some approaches, like, for instance, Hearts & Minds (see: http://heartsandminds.energyinst.org/), high-reliable organizing (HRO) is considered to be the ultimate goal. HRO has been proposed as a solution against ‘normal accidents’; major accidents that are bound to happen in tightly-coupled, hazardous systems [8].
- 2.
I borrowed this example from social constructivist Kenneth Gergen; see his full lecture on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AsKFFX9Ib0.
- 3.
As in the Latin proverb Qui tacet consentire videtur, ubi loqui debuit ac potuit (He who is silent, but should have spoken and was able to, is taken to agree).
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Guldenmund, F.W. (2018). Are Safety Culture Assessments Really Necessary?. In: Arezes, P. (eds) Advances in Safety Management and Human Factors. AHFE 2017. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 604. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60525-8_11
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