Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/452309
37 AGGREGATES MANAGER February 2015 SAFETY EXCELLENCE Build a flexible safety management system that employees perceive positively. by Zach Knoop Systematic Excellence D r. Dan Petersen was an industrial psychologist and arguably one of the most influential safety professionals in the areas of safety management and theory. Through years of research and working with companies throughout the world, Petersen determined that, although there was no one right way to manage safety, there were six criteria common to all organizations that were success- ful in creating a culture of safety, or in achieving safety excellence. Petersen's Six Criteria for Safety Excellence provides a checklist of must-haves for any organization wishing to improve its safety culture. The first four criteria focus on the specific roles and responsibilities of the various levels of the organization in creating a culture of safety, while the final two look at the overall safety manage- ment system. (See September 2014 – January 2015 issues of Aggregates Manager for articles about criteria 1-4) Of all the crite- ria, #5 – System is flexible to ac- commodate the culture is the one that most organi- zations struggle to understand. Some flat out reject the notion of flexibility within their safety system. A safety system Top management is visibly committed. Middle management is actively involved. Front-line supervision is performance-focused. Employees are actively participating. System is flexible to accommodate the culture. Safety system is positively perceived by the workforce. Six Criteria for Safety Excellence