CHAPTER 2

• LEARNING FROM DISASTERS

• Instructor: Philip Ho
• E-mail: philip.ho@cpti.com.hk
Web-site: www.cpti.com.hk
 SOCIO-TECHNICAL
SYSTEMS
• “London Underground has
accepted that a cultural change
is required throughout the
organisation.”
 CULTURE

• A multiplicity of definitions of the

term “culture” are available, but
here it is regarded as the
collection of beliefs, norms,
attitudes, roles and practices of
a given group, organisation,
institution and society.
 SAFETY CULTURE

• Safety culture can be defined as

those sets of norms, roles,
beliefs, attitudes and social and
technical practices within an
organisation, which are concerned
with minimising the exposure of
individuals to conditions
considered to be dangerous.
 DEVELOPING A SAFETY
CULTURE
• Leadership and commitment from the top,
which is genuine and visible. This is the
most important feature.
• Acceptance that it is a long term strategy
which requires sustained effort and interest.
• A policy statement of high expectations
and conveying a sense of optimism about
what is possible, which is supported by
adequate codes of practice and safety
standards.
DEVELOPING A SAFETY
CULTURE
• Health and safety should be
treated as seriously as other
corporate aims, and properly
resourced.
• It must be a line management
responsibility.
 DEVELOPING A SAFETY
CULTURE
• ‘Ownership’ of health and safety
must permeate through all levels of
the workplace. This requires
employee involvement, training and
communication.
• Realistic and achievable targets
should be set and performance
measured against them.
• Incidents should be thoroughly
investigated.
DEVELOPING A SAFETY
CULTURE
• Consistency of behaviour against
agreed standards should be achieved
by auditing and good safety behaviour
should be a condition of employment.
• Deficiencies revealed by an
investigation or audit should be
remedied promptly.
• Management must receive adequate
up-to-date information to be able to
assess performance.
KING’S CROSS REPORT

• "It is essential that a system should be

devised whereby safety of operation can be
the subject of audit in the same way as
efficiency and economy.
• "If the internal audit has become the yardstick
by which financial performance is measured
then the safety audit should become the
yardstick by which safety is measured.
• "Only with such a tool can the Board, and
hence the general public, be satisfied that all
aspects of safety are maintained at the right
level."
 SAFETY CHARTER

• The Safety Charter is a written

document highlighting the
commitment of both the employers
and employees in creating and
maintaining a safe and healthy work
environment. It spells out the safety
goals of the organisation and points
out the responsibilities of various
parties. Employers are encouraged to
establish a Safety Charter and use it as
basis for building a safety management
system.
 Question & Answer

• Information Centre:
www.cpti.com.hk
• Thank you