Analysis of Safety Culture Maturity in Two Finnish Companies

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze perceptions of safety culture in two Finnish industrial companies. Background: The link between safety culture and safety performance has been investigated in many studies. However, understanding of the status of safety culture and the specific needs for development is still limited. Method: A recently developed safety culture maturity model was used to analyze the level of safety culture through a survey of two Finnish companies. A questionnaire was sent to 1109 respondents, 289 of whom completed it (26% response rate). Results: The state of safety culture was rather advanced in both case companies, and the personnel in both companies were overall satisfied with it. However, the analysis indicated considerable differences in safety culture perceptions within the companies. Particularly, top management and safety experts perceived the state of safety culture as more advanced than employees did. Conclusion: There are differences in perceptions of safety culture, especially between top management and employees, which might hinder the development of safety culture in organizations. By understanding such differences within an organization, it is possible to identify appropriate managerial actions for different levels.