How to improve workplace safety culture: practical advice for every industry

Workplace safety culture is one of the fundamental pillars of business success, as by placing the individual at the center and addressing individual and organizational values, goals, mindset, risk perception, leadership, and behaviors, it ensures high standards and contributes to a protected and highly productive work environment. Improving workplace safety is not only a legal obligation, but therefore represents an opportunity to strengthen organizational culture, employee leadership and engagement, reduce risk and boost performance. Safety culture is a key factor in reducing accidents and improving staff well-being, which in turn increases productivity and job satisfaction. Numerous studies conducted in the last decade have unequivocally demonstrated a correlation between safety performance and business results. Even in evolved organizations, the implementation of advanced and mature occupational health and safety and environmental management systems is no longer deemed sufficient to improve overall performance. New trends emerging from industry underscore the importance of a safety culture and leadership approach as the actual roots of the causes of serious and very serious occurrences.

Each sector presents specific security challenges, and a one-size-fits-all approach is often insufficient. Workplace safety best practices vary based on the type of activity performed and the configuration of risks, which is why every industry and every organization requires targeted and “tailor-made” strategies.

Improving business safety through leadership and training

A crucial element in strengthening security is leadership. Each “key figure”, which can be found not only as a function of formal responsibilities, but also on the basis of the ability to be an influential bearer of the “way of doing things” efficiently, productively and safely, can and should take an active role in promoting safety. This means not only respecting norms, but also motivating people to follow safe practices through a positive behavior model. Leadership in safety, or safety management at the decision-making and operational levels, includes “transformative” techniques such as coaching and continuing education. Industry leaders can implement regular "safety dialogues" with workers, participate in daily safety activities, and communicate safety values clearly and accessiblely. Putting the human factor back at the center within the set of rules and processes has therefore become a strategic theme for improving the health and safety culture integrated with business logic.

Training is another indispensable aspect of ensuring a safe working environment 

Training approaches based on a clear division (silos based) between technical training, soft skills and managerialism, have proven to be limiting with respect to the needs for integrating the Organizational Culture of Safety at Work.

Such approaches are ineffective unless accompanied by a conscious and integrated vision, and by initiatives that tend to support the decision-making processes of their leaders, both at the “macro” and “micro” organizational levels. Putting the human factor back at the center within the set of rules and processes has therefore become a strategic theme for improving the health and safety culture integrated with business logic. This requires a holistic organizational vision capable of combining the technical and managerial elements envisaged by organizational systems with soft skills programs centered on the motivational elements, beliefs, values of individual leaders, but also on the cognitive-attentive limits (studied by Human Factor paradigms) that characterize individuals' ways of perceiving-deciding-acting-learning.

Training programs are therefore no longer limited to providing basic safety knowledge, but integrate virtual simulations, interactive workshops, and advanced leadership training modules. Staff can thus develop a “safety mindset” that helps them perceive and manage risks.

Technology and predictive KPIs as tools to improve workplace safety

The integration of digital technologies is a major step forward for many companies. Artificial intelligence tools, their ability to analyze alternative data and interact with wearable devices, and the Internet of Things (IoT) allow for real-time monitoring of workers' health and environmental conditions, reducing reaction times in emergencies. Artificial intelligence solutions can detect “patterns” of risky behavior and send preventive warning signals, contributing to the prevention of workplace accidents. For example, at some pilot industrial sites, predictive systems have been implemented to monitor worker movement and prevent collisions or accidents caused by distraction or interference in contexts of ongoing change management.

Additionally, to evaluate the effectiveness of safety measures, many companies have started using predictive KPIs. These indicators are designed to anticipate the trend towards potential accidents based on the behaviors and conditions detected, but also predict the success of actions to improve the Safety Culture, allowing corrective and improvement interventions to be implemented in advance. For example, a predictive KPI could monitor the frequency of “safety dialogues” between managers and workers, signaling the need for greater engagement when these are insufficient.

Engaging employees and creating a shared safety culture

The creation of a culture of security cannot take place only from above; it is vital to actively involve all levels of the organization. In fact, employees play a key role in recognizing weak signals that can indicate danger. Increasing risk awareness among workers and managers is possible through safety coaching programs and internal communication campaigns. Some companies have implemented activities such as the “Security Trophy”, an initiative that rewards the most safety-conscious employees, creating a motivating and collaboration-oriented environment.

In high-risk sectors, such as mining or chemicals, intensive workshops are organized where employees can learn to recognize risks through practical exercises and simulated situations. These workshops, which last an average of two to four hours, help staff develop the readiness needed to address risks in real time. Involvement can also occur through the use of innovative tools, such as risk perception questionnaires, which allow employees to express their perceptions regarding safety conditions in the company.

How to ensure a safe work environment in global and multi-site companies

When a company operates on a global scale, ensuring a uniform safety culture across all locations is a challenge. Some companies are adopting an innovative "audit coaching" approach for their external suppliers and partners, with vertical audits and contextual coaching sessions that aim to predictively identify the root causes of injuries and foster a shared culture. In the energy sector, for example, these practices help companies maintain high safety standards even when operating with supplier or contract staff and by providing for significant involvement of the purchasing department in formulating supplier reliability rankings, also based on a measure of the Organizational Culture of Safety.

To facilitate safety communication in international contexts, many companies adopt universal guidelines on behaviors and procedures. In addition, periodic workshops and follow-ups are organized to verify that practices are properly understood and implemented. This methodology not only standardizes safety criteria, but also allows employees at each location to feel involved and responsible for company safety, allowing everyone to act in the same way in every location.

Resilience and stress management for safety improvement

An often underestimated aspect of workplace safety is the mental well-being of employees. Stress and work overload can negatively affect your ability to perceive risks and make confident decisions. In recent years, many companies have developed mental health support programs, with the goal of making employees “antifragile”. These programs focus on developing personal skills, such as resilience and optimism, that help workers manage stressful situations.

Integrating these skills into corporate safety culture is particularly effective in complex and dynamic environments, such as construction and logistics, where working conditions change rapidly. Through webinars, workshops and group activities, workers learn to recognize signs of stress and transform situations of uncertainty into opportunities for personal growth.

Conclusion

Improving workplace safety requires a holistic and integrated approach, combining leadership, technology, active employee engagement, and a focus on mental well-being. This is not an immediate process, but a continuous development path that includes periodic evaluations and the adaptation of strategies to the specific needs of each sector. Companies can draw inspiration from established best practices and implement predictive KPIs, engaging leaders and employees in a cultural shift that values safety and well-being. AR19 offers training and support to implement safety culture within companies, including innovative artificial intelligence solutions and “tailor-made” workplace safety culture transformation programs. 

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