What is Safety Culture and Why Does it Matter?
A strong safety culture isn’t just about following rules—it’s about making safety an ingrained habit, valued above profitability, productivity, or ego. However, complacency can set in when people do something for a long time without incident. This illusion of invulnerability leads to risky behaviors, like ignoring safety procedures or cutting corners.
In the presence of immediate danger, safety is our first concern. However, when tasks become routine, we can develop a false sense of security. Consider driving—something most of us do daily. Over time, we become comfortable, sometimes too comfortable, leading us to engage in risky behaviors like texting while driving or speeding. This illusion of invulnerability is dangerous. We justify small risks by telling ourselves things like, “It’s just a short message” or “The road is empty,” but the reality is that every risk taken increases the chances of an accident.
The same concept applies in the workplace. When employees become desensitized to risk, they begin cutting corners, skipping safety checks, or ignoring personal protective equipment. Over time, these behaviors become habits, and if left unchallenged, they contribute to a weak safety culture that can lead to severe injuries—or worse, fatalities.
Workplace safety must be intentional. As Patrick Cantner, HSE Director at Willbros Canada, states: “A strong safety culture is about doing the right thing all the time, even when no one is looking.” Organizations that commit to safety see a transformation in behavior, where employees instinctively prioritize safety in every task.
So, what exactly is a safety culture? A culture is a set of values, norms, beliefs, and attitudes shared by a group of people. When a strong safety culture exists, it influences the behaviors of everyone within an organization. Employees don’t just comply with safety policies because they’re told to—they internalize them, making safety a fundamental part of how they work.
Consider organizations with robust safety cultures: safety is prioritized above profitability, deadlines, or convenience. These workplaces are almost fanatical about their employees’ well-being, embedding safety into every aspect of their operations. New employees quickly adapt to the safety-first environment or realize they don’t belong. Safety isn’t an afterthought; it’s part of daily operations, from leadership decisions to frontline practices.
A great example of this is the Alberta Liquor and Gaming Commission warehouse, managed by Connect Logistics. Program Manager Marcia Minto recalls that the importance of safety was evident from the moment she walked through the door. “It was interesting to hear them talk and watch how their operations function,” she explained. Safety was seamlessly integrated into every task, from requiring sign-ins and safety vests to the extensive health and safety information displayed throughout the facility.
Indicators of a strong safety culture are everywhere in such organizations. Visible safety boards, active safety committees, and ongoing safety discussions reinforce the message that safety is not optional—it’s an expectation. Employees feel empowered to speak up when they notice unsafe behaviors because they know leadership genuinely values their input.
On the other hand, organizations with weak safety cultures suffer from a lack of accountability. Excuses for unsafe behaviors are common: “I forgot,” “It’ll only take a minute,” or “I’ve always done it this way and never gotten hurt.” These attitudes erode safety culture and increase the likelihood of accidents. Occupational Health and Safety Officer Ted Lane has investigated over 100 fatal accidents and more than 300 disabling injuries. He estimates that at least 80% of these were not just preventable, but easily preventable—if only existing hazards had been properly addressed.
The key takeaway? A strong safety culture isn’t a set of rules—it’s an attitude, a commitment to prioritizing safety above all else. It requires leadership buy-in, consistent reinforcement, and most importantly, a shared belief that safety is everyone’s responsibility. When safety becomes second nature in a workplace, the risk of incidents dramatically decreases, and employees can perform their jobs with confidence, knowing they are protected.
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