Safety culture

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Austin, TX – A group of researchers is contesting the prevailing, black-and-white notion that organizations either learn from past safety mistakes or do not.

Safety+Health presents Q&As with seven leaders who demonstrate a personal commitment to worker safety and health.

In some organizations, the safety team consists of one person. What challenges does this create? How does a safety professional avoid feeling isolated and keep up with important trends when he or she is all alone? Three safety pros weigh in.

Washington – The Federal Aviation Administration, in partnership with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, has established a program intended to allow certain agency workers to raise safety concerns without fear of retaliation.

Human resources and safety professionals have similar objectives: ensure effective work processes while complying with the law. Although the departments don’t necessarily need to work together to achieve their goals, experts say that failure to do so may come at a cost.

Every worker has the right to stop work if he or she feels unsafe. But is that enough? Some experts say employers should empower workers to halt an unsafe task or situation regardless of who is performing it.

A merger or acquisition often means organizations must find a way to unite two safety cultures. The process presents challenges – and opportunities.

In the wake of severe injuries – including a death – involving laboratory researchers at U.S. universities, the Chemical Safety Board and the American Chemical Society are exploring the issues of education and training, near-miss reporting, and safety culture in university labs.