Ripples in a pond: an open system model of the evolution of safety culture.

The development of an effective safety culture is essential to promote safe operations. Previous studies have either identified the characteristics of effective safety culture analytically, inferring them from signs and symbols derived from working practices, or have restricted the study of the development of safety culture to workers within an organisation. This paper describes a large-scale survey-based study in which the factors influencing the evolution of safety culture are identified empirically and, drawing upon open systems theory, are also extended beyond the bounds of the organisation. Three major determinants of safety culture are identified: safety concerns, influences and actions. Sub-components within each of these categories are also identified and the relationship between them is hypothesised.