It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that strategy is a key element that affects safety culture and safety maturity. As with all attempts to improve, the first step is to establish the gap between your current and desirable safety culture. In this piece we will:
1. Define the Safety Maturity Element - Strategy
2. Provide a short self-assessment flowchart so you can see where your organisation may sit on the safety maturity scale for strategy.
3. Show you what good looks like
4. Finish with some helpful tips for improving your safety maturity within element 2 – strategy.
Within the structure of a SafetyWorks Safety Maturity Assessment (SMA) the element on strategy assesses the nature of the organisation’s vision and mission for safety including how it is developed, communicated and aligned with other organisational goals. Sub elements include; strategic goals, strategic plans, link to values, strategy engagement, links to business units/teams, expertise and strategic language.
For an indication of where your organisation sits on the safety maturity scale for strategy and for an overview of what good looks like, click the button below.
Three tips to improve your safety maturity using strategy
Establish Strategic Goals that are future based and embraced by all levels of the organisation including contractors to achieve a visionary level of safety maturity. Strategic goals that do not have people focus on the future are evidence that the organisation is situated at a lower level of safety maturity.
‘If you don’t know where you’re going any road will take you there.’ – Lewis Carroll
Review the values mindset of your organisation.Work towards achieving a state where the safety values are integrated with business values and the focus is on minimising exposure to risk. Organisations that fail to focus on your safety values are easily distracted by factors such as minimising costs and focussing on compliance.
‘When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier.’ – Roy E Disney
Engage people in the WHS strategy. When people are continually included in decision-making processes and updated on strategy direction and rate of progress they become more engaged.
‘Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.’ – Verna Myers
These are just a few of the things to look at to improve your organisations strategy in regards to safety maturity. For an in depth discussion about how our Safety Maturity Assessment service can assist your organisation, contact us.