Safety Culture Surveys
Why conduct safety culture surveys?
It has often been said: 'perception is reality' and is the most direct influence on a person’s behaviour. A perception survey can give an insight into these realities for people in the work environment.
Peterson (1989) indicated that perception surveys are the true measure of the effectiveness of a safety program – significantly more valid and reliable than audits. Culture Surveys are so-called 'positive lead indicators', and therefore truly preventative, enabling proactive management.
The e-Profile survey system, as used by more than 150 companies in Australia and internationally, is innovative technology designed to provide accurate safety culture survey data and analysis. This unique system allows benchmarking against mining, manufacturing and processing industry databases.
In 1999 SAFEmap completed a resources industry-wide survey of safety culture on behalf of the Minerals Council of Australia – the largest ever project of this kind. The results have gained international recognition in the USA and Canada as a world-first for the resources industry. Click here for full report in pdf format or click here for further details of research.
What are the benefits?
The e-Profile surveys are extremely cost effective, as companies are able to conduct surveys in-house, and have instant access, via e-mail or the Internet, to the most comprehensive benchmark data for comparisons and trend analysis. The cost is less than 50% of any comparable survey.
The e-Profile survey is a powerful tool which focuses on the culture of an organisation which is an aspect of management that has not received sufficient attention in the past, simply because of the large costs associated with consultants and survey methods.
e-profile provides a cost effective means for organisations to take a progressive step towards improving safety, productivity or management-worker relations.
e-Profile has application in the mining, processing and manufacturing industries. The database is a unique resource covering Australian and international companies. No other survey can provide you with the opportunity to benchmark yourself against a like industry norm. Surveys tailored to clients requirements are also available allowing our clients to quantify and more effectively manage the very ambiguous aspects of human behaviour, attitudes, climate and culture.
What are the outcomes of a survey?
The outcomes of most surveys are usually a qualitative analysis of the data, including information on actual responses, trends and conclusions.
The e-Profile surveys include qualitative analysis as well as specific graphical profiles of responses against benchmarks in like industries. This database was developed through the culture survey conducted on behalf of the Minerals Council of Australia in 1999 but has been extended to include data from over 100 companies.
e-Profile surveys are based on advanced, patented survey technology. One of the components of e-profile is the safety culture survey. The other component is a generic Organisational Culture Survey, which can be tailored to suit your organisation's specific requirements.
Safety Culture Model
The e-Profile safety culture survey measures attitudes and perceptions about safety. Essentially, how employees view the management and supervision of safety, and whether there is real and genuine commitment for safety in the organisation.
In the SAFEmap International model there are basically eight categories the company, management, supervision, management systems, safety systems, job factors, team factors, individual factors.
