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712 Safety Supervision and Leadership
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Workplace Culture

The most effective safety culture designs a safety management system that integrates the safety function with operations.

Four employees meeting around a table with a open computer on it.
Safety is a core value in effective safety cultures.

For the successful integration of safety into operational practices, it's essential to regard safety not merely as a priority, but as a fundamental value.

  • Values do not readily change.
  • Priorities tend to change, especially when the "going gets tough."

In situations where goals are not being met, there’s a temptation to take shortcuts to boost efficiency. However, this approach often leads to unsafe practices, thereby elevating the risk of accidents. In a culture where safety is a core value, the clear directive from management to employees is unequivocal: production must be safe, or it does not happen at all. In such an environment, safety is not just another priority; it's an absolute prerequisite for all operations.

When safety is a value, the standard is "Safe Production or No Production!"

Corporate Culture and Personality

Corporate culture can be thought of as the embodiment of 'the way things are' within an organization, akin to its unique personality. The most influential factor in shaping this organizational personality is the leadership at the top.

Over time, the corporate personality often evolves to reflect the traits and characteristics of the organization's leader. This dynamic is not just limited to the organization as a whole; it similarly applies within individual departments. The personality of the departmental heads often shapes the culture of their respective areas. Consequently, the diversity in leadership and management styles across different departments can give rise to distinct subcultures within the organization.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

8-8. What's the difference between values and priorities?