Comments on: Workplace Safety: It is All About Culture

By: Lise Raev

Lise Raev — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:18:42 +0000

Interesting info! Recently, the company I work for had a safety speaker come and give a presentation to all the employees on concepts like this. It was really illuminating. I very much like the idea that it's all about "culture".

By: Melissa Littleford

Melissa Littleford — Mon, 16 May 2011 02:21:49 +0000

Hey Anton thanks for your informative article with regard to Workplace Safety: It’s all about Culture.
I believe that a new dawn is approaching when CEOs, Directors, Senior Managers, Managers and Employees will begin to understand the necessity of Workplace Safety as in not just to ‘tick the boxes’ or go through the motions of OHS. The time has arrived for Employers to listen to the front line staff, the time has come for Employers to geniunely consult (not adhoc) with the Employees and value their input.
The new ‘due dilegence requirements’ in 2012 hopefully will set out to Employers what is needed to ensure a ‘safe and healthy working environment’ (BOTH: physically and psychologically). Surely, by now ALL Employers realise the need to have Anti-Bullying Policy and clear OHS policies and procedures to ensure the safety of ALL EMPLOYEES.

Kind regards,
Melissa Littleford.

By: safety supplies

safety supplies — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 04:49:28 +0000

yes I also believe the culture of company has great influence on safety practices. I would say the culture of company should have work safe practices. thanks for wonderful ideas

By: Marg

Marg — Mon, 03 May 2010 01:59:03 +0000

Great read Anton, simple and straight to the point. I intend to share the article with some collegues.

By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:31:36 +0000

Anton, enjoyed your article, developing positive, safe and creative work place culture is a challenge worth pursuing. Any tips on transforming historical bullying culture to one of safety, trust, where everyone has an opportunity to thrive? I am not talking about physical safety here. I am talking about a long standing environment of psychological abuse really it must have originated out of unresolved or unsuccessful resolution of fairly intense conflict. This tension is projected onto new workers, myself included, and certain exisitng workers. It stifles creativity and causes self doubt. Do you have suggestions on ways to create dynamic mutual respect zones in the midst of this?

By: Charles

Charles — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:58:04 +0000

It is a lot easier to have a safer work environment if safety in ingrained in the culture.

By: Anton

Anton — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:34:02 +0000

John,

Great points. Culture is about what the employees are thinking, doing and feeling. It is about norms and unwritten rules. The more that employees can latch onto the belief of the importance of safety the better the culture will get.

By: John

John — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:45:03 +0000

Anton, what you say seems to make sense and i can only agree. If its not driven by employees based on how they see safety, then there is no chance that culture will change. Attitudes, beliefs, behaviours and caring are a powerful mover into accepting responsibility and accountability.