Understanding and Implementing the Safety Maturity Model & Assessment

Think of your workplace safety culture like a sports team.

When every player understands the game plan and works together, the team performs at its best. But if some players don’t follow the strategy or don’t put in the same effort, the team struggles, and losses become more frequent. Similarly, when not everyone in the workplace shares the same commitment to safety, it becomes challenging to implement important safety initiatives, leading to increased injuries. To ensure your team is playing at its safest, companies need to understand their safety culture deeply. This understanding starts with assessing how mature that culture is, ensuring everyone is on the same page and working towards a common goal of a safer workplace. 

In this blog, we will explore the importance of a mature safety culture, the components of the Safety Maturity Model, and how assessment software can aid in achieving and maintaining a high standard of workplace safety.

How Culture Impacts Compliance and Initiatives 

When a company struggles with compliance or other safety issues, the typical reaction is to jump into new initiatives they hope will turn things around. They might invest in training programs, new equipment, or updated procedures, believing these actions will reverse negative trends. However, these efforts often fall short because they fail to address the underlying cultural issues that are the true barriers to progress.  

Many companies go years without realizing that the real problem isn’t the initiatives they are implementing—it’s the safety culture itself. If the workplace culture doesn’t prioritize safety, even the best plans will struggle to succeed. Cultural issues can lead to a lack of engagement, inconsistent practices, and ultimately, a failure to achieve desired safety outcomes.  

To truly improve safety, companies must first understand and address these cultural issues. This involves evaluating the current state of the safety culture, identifying areas where attitudes and behaviors do not align with safety goals, and implementing strategies to foster a more cohesive and safety-conscious environment. 

This is where Safety Maturity Survey comes into play. To Analyse and bridge this gap, companies must deeply understand their current safety culture, which begins with assessing its maturity. This is where the Safety Maturity Survey comes into play. 

Evaluating Your Company’s Safety Culture Maturity 

Determining where your company stands in terms of safety culture maturity can be quite challenging. To help with this, we have developed the CORE-EHS Safety Maturity Survey Module. This model breaks down safety culture maturity into five common levels, each with its own set of characteristics.  

The model offers insights into the typical behaviours and mindsets at each level. It also suggests the best activities to implement at each stage and provides guidance on how to carry these out effectively—whether you use our software solutions or not. 

By understanding these levels, companies can better identify where they currently stand and what steps they need to take to progress to a more advanced stage of safety culture maturity. This approach not only helps in planning and executing safety initiatives but also ensures that these efforts are aligned with the overall safety goals of the organization. 

Focusing on cultural change can create a foundation where safety initiatives are more likely to succeed. This means engaging employees at all levels, promoting open communication about safety concerns, and ensuring that safety is viewed as a core value rather than an obligation. When everyone in the organization is committed to a culture of safety, the impact of safety initiatives is significantly enhanced, leading to a safer and more productive workplace. 

The Safety maturity Survey Module 

The Safety Maturity Survey (SMS) software from CORE-EHS is a comprehensive tool designed to evaluate and enhance an organization’s safety culture. The SMS software assesses various aspects of safety practices, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement.  

How this module helps: 

– Leadership Commitment: Evaluates management’s involvement in safety practices. 

– Employee Engagement: Measures employee participation in safety initiatives. 

– Training and Competence: Assesses the effectiveness of safety training programs. 

– Risk Management: Analyzes processes for identifying and mitigating risks. 

– Incident Reporting: Reviews mechanisms for reporting and investigating safety incidents. 

– Safety Policies: Examines the enforcement of safety policies and procedures. 

– Performance Monitoring: Tracks safety performance metrics over time. 

– Continuous Improvement: Evaluates ongoing enhancements based on feedback and incidents. 

– Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other EHS software for streamlined management. 

– Progress Tracking: Monitors advancements in safety measures. 

– Employee Feedback: Collects input to understand safety culture perspectives. 

– Training Needs Assessment: Identifies areas needing further safety training. 

– Incident Analysis: Provides insights into the root causes of safety incidents. 

– Strategic Planning: Informs the development of targeted safety initiatives. 

Benefits: 

– Promotes a proactive safety environment 

– Ensures compliance with industry standards 

– Provides data-driven insights for decision-making 

– Helps reduce risks and incidents 

– Encourages employee involvement in safety practices 

– Supports continuous improvement and efficient resource allocation 

By leveraging the SMS software, organizations can build a robust safety culture that not only complies with regulatory standards but also fosters a safer and more productive work environment. 

Conclusion 

In order to cultivate a strong safety culture, it is essential for organizations to understand and implement the Safety Maturity Model. This model helps identify and address the fundamental cultural issues that can impede safety efforts. By using tools such as the CORE-EHS Safety Maturity Survey Module, companies can assess their current safety culture, pinpoint areas needing improvement, and develop strategies to enhance their overall safety practices. 

Achieving a mature safety culture requires more than just new initiatives; it involves a comprehensive cultural shift where safety is seen as a fundamental value. Engaging employees at all levels and fostering open communication about safety concerns are key steps in this process. When safety becomes ingrained in the organizational culture, initiatives are more likely to succeed, leading to a safer and more efficient workplace. By prioritizing the maturity of their safety culture, organizations can ensure long-term safety and productivity.