A Culture of Safety

When I ran the sailing at ODSSA I never really understood that remark, "A Culture of Safety".

Working where I am now I am getting a better understanding of it, as I don't think there is such a culture. The problem is identifying what it is that is causing this to be lacking.

It is not something you can put your finger on. At the end of the day it is, in my opinion a matter of detail. The problem with that is that you end up discussing, or arguing about, that specific detail and you lose contact with the overall picture. That specific detail was only one example of what is lacking.

Very difficult - is it age or experience which causes folk to discuss problems and shortcomings amongst themselves. "Water Cooler Gossip"" that would never be raised in a formal meeting, yet vital to developing a culture of safety.

Even more difficult:- is there anything more you can do to change things or do you just hope that nothing happens. After all, at the end of the day "Culture" is not going to be the cause of an accicent.