176348 Workplace safety culture: A panel

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Beth Rosenberg, ScD MPH , Dept. of Public Health and Family Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
Workplace Safety Culture

The term “Safety Culture” has been captured by Industry and is often code for blaming workers for health and safety failures. We have seen how the goal of "zero injuries" perverts workplace safety by discouraging the reporting of injuries. What does a decent workplace safety culture look like and how do you get it? A progressive vision of workplace culture, and a well-educated workforce with power, are necessary. What else should be on our agenda to develop a real safety culture? This panel is interested in moving the discussion forward to strategizing about how to develop a real safety culture. Policy, legal, and political options will be explored.

Beth Rosenberg will present her and Chuck Levenstein's research DoE/USW sites on characteristics of safety programs that actually seem to work, as well as those that are dismal failures.

Tom McQuiston will present a progressive vision of workplace safety culture. Other presenters may include Jim Howe, Nancy Lessin and/or Dorothy Wigmore.

Learning Objectives:
Workplace Safety Culture Participants will be able to: 1. define safety culture 2. distinguish between a real safety culture and one that is veneer 3. understand the requirements for an effective safety culture 4. articulate aspects of a progressive vision of workplace safety culture

Keywords: Occupational Safety, Behavior Based Safety

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have done research in this area for 10 years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Workplace Safety Culture Panel
See more of: Occupational Health and Safety