Building a positive safety culture within an organization is considered critical to safety performance, yet defining safety culture has been somewhat elusive. There are many definitions for the concept of safety culture and numerous components to what is described as a multifaceted phenomenon, with scores of contributing components. This report presents considerable research on the definition and elements that make up and influence safety culture within public transportation and in other industries. The research included a review of available literature, stakeholder interviews, surveys of transit industry leaders and experts, interviews on safety culture with leaders in other industries, and case studies. Drawing on the successes of organizations both within and outside the transit industry, the report presents specific strategies for improving safety culture and guidelines for public transportation agencies. Improving safety culture is a goal that requires a long-term, organization-wide commitment. This report is intended for public transportation agencies seeking to improve their safety culture. The report (1) provides a working definition of safety culture and identifies its key components for use by the public transportation industry, (2) presents methods and tools for assessing safety culture, (3) identifies performance indicators and reporting practices to support improved safety culture, (4) presents best practices in use by public transit and other organizations as tried-and-true strategies for improving safety culture, and (5) provides guidelines that can be used to initiate and build a program for improving safety culture by public transportation agencies. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting