How is the culture of safety defined within an organization?

The culture of safety within an organization is best defined by how the organization behaves when no one is watching. This reflects the underlying values, beliefs, and attitudes about safety that guide decision-making and actions throughout the organization. A strong safety culture means that safety is prioritized in all circumstances, leading to consistent behaviors that protect employees, patients, and stakeholders, even in the absence of supervision or external checks.

This concept emphasizes personal accountability and intrinsic motivation regarding safety practices. It suggests that employees are not just following protocols because they have been trained or because they are being monitored, but because they genuinely understand the importance of safety and have adopted it as a core value. In contrast, focusing solely on metrics like the number of safety audits, the type of training provided, or the availability of safety equipment does not provide a holistic view of an organization's safety culture. These elements can contribute to safety but do not capture the essence of how an organization genuinely prioritizes and practices safety at its core.