Does Your Employer Walk the Safety Talk? Understanding Safety Culture vs. Safety Climate
Safety is essential in any workplace, but how can employers show they truly prioritise it? Understanding the difference between safety culture and safety climate helps reveal if an organisation genuinely walks the talk. This distinction is crucial for both employers and employees.
What is Safety Climate? Safety climate refers to the shared perceptions among employees regarding the procedures, practices, and behaviours that are rewarded and supported in an organisation. Zohar (2010) described it as the collective view of how safety is prioritised at a given moment. In contrast, safety culture refers to the deeper values and assumptions guiding behaviour (Griffin and Curcuruto, 2016, cited in Goncalves Filho & Waterson, 2018).
A Case from the Mining Industry
Even in organisations known for a strong safety culture, significant operational changes can impact safety climate. For instance, transitioning from a 2-on-2-off to a 2-on-1-off roster can lead to increased fatigue and reduced time at home, which may shift employees’ perceptions of safety. This shift can foster frustration and cause employees to question whether their employer truly values their wellbeing or prioritises cost-cutting measures instead. When employees feel that safety messaging does not align with workplace practices, it reflects in their perception of the safety climate. Ultimately, what employees express and experience day-to-day—that’s the safety climate.
A Case from the Horse Racing Industry
The horse racing industry provides a stark example of poor safety culture, particularly concerning issues like sexual misconduct and bullying. One employee shared experiences of harassment during her time as both a jockey and later as a trainer, including an incident where a fellow jockey pinned her against a wall in front of racing officials. Such stories highlight the toxic behaviour many women in the sport have endured, often without sufficient support or recourse. These revelations point to a deeper cultural problem within horse racing—an environment where misogyny and intimidation have been allowed to persist. What employees share as a value and belief and how safety is perceived and practiced – that’s the safety culture.
Why Does Safety Climate Matter? Safety climate is crucial because it directly influences employee behaviour. When safety is prioritised over productivity, employees are more likely to engage in safe practices. Conversely, when speed and cost are prioritised, shortcuts may become common, increasing risk and underreporting incidents.
Key Attributes of Safety Climate
- Relative Priorities: Employees often juggle safety against other operational demands like productivity. A strong safety climate signals that safe behaviour is rewarded and supported.
- Alignment Between Words and Actions: Consistency between what leaders say and do is essential. If safety is overlooked under pressure, employees will see it isn’t truly prioritised.
- Internal Consistency: Trust is built when policies and practices align across the company. Discrepancies weaken the safety climate.
- Shared Perceptions: Safety climate stems from employees’ shared experiences and beliefs.
The Role of Leadership Social Sensemaking: Informal conversations among colleagues (“water cooler talk”) help shape shared perceptions that define safety climate.
Leadership’s Role: Leaders play a key role in shaping safety climate. When they prioritise safety through actions, employees internalise it. Supervisors’ behaviour signals which actions are rewarded or tolerated.
Moving Beyond the Basics
Zohar (2010) noted that while safety climate is proven to predict outcomes, more research is needed to understand what shapes it and its connection to safety culture.
At Spring Safety Consultants, we help organisations assess and improve safety climate and culture. Aligning these aspects leads to a safer, more engaged workforce. We guide clients on their cultural development journey, encouraging transformational leadership.
Is your organisation walking the safety talk? Observing how policies align with practice and how safety interacts with productivity pressures offers valuable insights. Contact us if you are keen to explore how Spring Safety Consultants can help your business.
References
Guldenmund, F. W. (2000). The nature of safety culture: a review of theory and research. Safety science, 34(1-3), 215-257.
Harrington, J. (2024). “We’re sorry” as BHA vows to tackle bullying and sexual misconduct in racing. Racing Post. Retrieved from https://www.racingpost.com/news
Mineral Resources FIFO workers bolt after tough roster changes rolled out in major savings drive. (2024). The West Australian. Retrieved from https://www.thewest.com.au/
Zohar, D. (2010). Thirty years of safety climate research: Reflections and future directions. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 42(5), 1517–1522.
