The Role of Corporate Culture in Safety Performance

Presented by

Judith A. Erickson, Ph.D.

President, Erickson Associates

American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Expo

Embracing Change

June 2 - 7, 2001

New Orleans, Louisiana

EHS is Changing to:

• Blameless• Integrated• Interactive

Treating Safety and Health Differently

• Piecemeal Programs Do Not Work in the Long Run

• Scientific Research: Management Commitment & Employee Participation

•Changing U.S. Businesses

Importance of Understanding Culture

• What Goes on in Organizations

• Informal Rules Dictating Behavior

• Basis for Everything Valued

• Where it Helps or Hurts Safety

OSHA Strategic Goal

“Change Workplace Culture to Increase Employer and Worker Awareness of, Commitment to, and Involvement in Safety and Health”

The Role of Management

• Commitment

• Safety vs. Other Concerns

• Integration

• Personal Involvement

• Accountability

• Support

Corporate Culture

• Assumptions

• Values • Actions and Behavior

Assumptions

• Human Nature

• Human Relationships

Values

• Organizational Standards of Desired Ends

• Actions to Attain These End Points

• Oughts and Shoulds

• Preferences that Indicate Rightness of Certain Beliefs and Practices Over Others

• Interdependent and Interrelated

How Management Communicates

• By What It Does

• By What It Pays Attention To

• By What It Ignores

• By What It Measures and Controls

High Safety-Performing

Companies

•Environment•Communication•EHS Professionals•Employee Treatment

Study Conclusions

• Organizational Issues

• Positive Treatment

• Does Money Talk?

• Safety Programs Alone Don’t Work

• Safety Program Evaluation

Soft Skills• Trustworthiness

• Communication

• Integrity

• Adaptability

• Interpersonal Skills

Current Management Book Themes

• Pay Attention to Employees for Commitment and Productivity

• Employee Fulfillment is a Vital Component of Corporate Success

Organizational Factors• Organizational Structure

• Organizational Importance of Safety and Health

• Responsibility/Accountability

• Communication

• Management Behavior

• Employee Involvement

• Employee Responses/Behavior

Perceptions

The way we organize and interpret our sensory input to give meaning to our environment.

Perception Surveys

• Feedback on Past Performance

• Information for Future Direction

• Design of Policies and Programs

• Scientific Validity Crucial

• Anonymous and Confidential

How Corporate Culture Changes

• Major Crises

•Survival Issues

•Mergers, New Management, Takeovers

•Management Wants to Change

Corporate Culture

versus

Safety Culture

Culture is the Key

• Management Leadership

• Employee Participation

Techniques

Do Not

Work

Rethinking EHS:

Not Zeroing in

on

Injuries and Accidents

New EHS Approach:

More Holistic

and

Integrated

Evaluating byOrganizational Factors

Improves:

• Safety Performance• Productivity• Communication• Commitment• Profitability