Roundtable

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 will include Nancy Lessin and Kenneth Hovland.

Session Objectives: At the completion of this session participants will be able to: # define safety culture # identify the three distinguishing factors between a real safety culture and one that is veneer # list the requirements for an effective safety culture # articulate aspects of a progressive vision of workplace safety culture