How do you think about safety? In 1995, Vernon Bradley (Plant Manager at DuPont Victoria, TX Plant) devised a system that explained 4 stages of personal growth relative to a person’s, or a company’s, attitude towards safety. The stages are defined below*:
- Reactive Stage
People do not take responsibility. They believe that safety is more a matter of luck than management, and that “accidents will happen.” And over time, they do. - Dependent Stage
People see safety as a matter of following rules that someone else makes. Accident rates decrease and management believes that safety could be managed “if only people would follow the rules.” - Independent Stage
Individuals take responsibility for themselves. People believe that safety is personal, and that they can make a difference with their own actions. This reduces accidents further. - Interdependent Stage
Teams of employees feel ownership for safety, and take responsibility for themselves and others. People do not accept low standards and risk-taking. They actively converse with others to understand their point of view. They believe true improvement can only be achieved as a group, and that zero injuries is an attainable goal.
At what stage are you and your company?