In the debut episode of Safety FM with Jay Allen, we take a deep dive into the hidden forces shaping safety culture in organizations. While policies and systems get most of the attention, what about the unseen players—the people and dynamics that truly shape workplace safety from behind the scenes?
Jay Allen is joined by expert safety consultant Samantha Jones and organizational psychology specialist Amanda Welch to explore the complexities of safety culture beyond surface-level narratives. Together, they uncover the subtle yet powerful influences of organizational structures, human behaviors, and informal leadership in shaping workplace safety. Through the lens of Human and Organizational Performance (HOP), they challenge traditional safety paradigms, highlighting how learning and adaptability are key to building a resilient safety culture.
Tune in as we question the conventional narratives, reveal the role of hidden influencers, and provide actionable insights to help organizations bridge the gap between policy and real-world safety practices.
? Listen now to start unmasking the unseen forces shaping your safety culture!
Show Transcript
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Welcome everyone to our very first episode of you unmasking safety culture the real unseen
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players I'm Jay Allen your host for this deep dive into the intricacies of safety culture
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today we're unraveling the unseen forces and players that influence safety within organizations
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when we talk about safety culture we often default to discussing systems and policies
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however what about those hidden aspects those invisible players who silently shape these
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practices this is exactly what we're here to uncover together we'll be exploring the
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complex layers and dynamics that are not often discussed instead of sticking to the surface
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level narratives it's time to challenge the status quo and bring to light the factors
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and influences driving safety culture from the shadows safety culture isn't just a set
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of manuals or guidelines it's an evolving entity influenced by numerous unseen factors
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recognizing these elements is key to understanding and improving the culture of safety within
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any organization so why are these unseen elements so crucial essentially they greatly impact
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how safety policies are formed how effectively they are put into practice often they remain
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masked by general assumptions and standard protocols but their influence is substantial
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through the lens of the organizational performance or hop we'll examine how these hidden influences
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can be identified and addressed hop helps us understand the human aspects and systemic
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interactions that affect performance and safety outcomes keep your ears peeled as we embark
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on this journey to unveil the real players behind safety cultures that often remain hidden
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but are integral to shaping safer organizational environments thank you for joining us today
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as we set the stage for this exciting exploration with that said let's dive into our journey
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of discovery and transformation pushing the boundaries of conventional safety narratives
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stay tuned as we venture into our first insight packed exploration and now let's smoothly
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transition to our next section remember we are scratching the surface here and there's
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much more to uncover as we progress now that we've set the stage for our exploration of
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unmasking safety culture it's time to meet our first guest who brings a wealth of insight
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and experience in this domain joining us today is samantha jones a seasoned safety consultant
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specializing in human organizational performance or hope samantha has spent over 10 years diving
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deep into the intricacies of safety cultures within organizations bringing a unique perspective
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that does not often make it into conventional narratives her role has been pivotal in altering
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the way organizations perceive and implement safety protocols samantha it's a pleasure
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to have you here with us as we delve into the hidden forces and players that truly influence
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safety culture can you share a bit about your background and what led you to specialize
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in this field thank you for sharing your professional background with us samantha now i'm curious
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about your journey into the world of safety consulting it's often these personal paths
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that really shed light on how someone becomes passionate about a field could you tell us
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more about your personal experiences that brought you to focus on the deeper aspects
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of safety culture absolutely jay it's been quite an adventure honestly like many in our
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field i didn't start in safety consulting immediately my journey began when i was working
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at a manufacturing plant right out of college i was in a management trainee program and safety
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was merely one of the numerous check boxes to tick off in our operations that seems to
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be a common entry point for many but what changed that initial view and led you to pursue
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safety consulting with a focus on culture interestingly it was a significant incident
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at the plant that served as a turning point i witnessed an accident that thankfully didn't
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result in any serious injuries but it exposed glaring oversights in our established safety
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protocols it was then that i realized we were often missing the human element in our safety
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strategies it's amazing how an incident like that can really open one's eyes to systemic
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issues and how did that experience lead you to explore the depths of safety culture after
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the incident i delved into human organizational performance or hop which changed everything
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for me it placed emphasis on understanding human behaviors systemic factors and how they
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intertwine with safety policies my interest grew from here and i began to explore not
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just the surface level procedures but the deeper cultural aspects that influence these
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practices that's such an insightful exploration samantha understanding the real players behind
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safety practices certainly offers a fresh perspective how did your exploration shape
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your approach in the field of safety consulting it reshaped my entire approach i started working
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with different organizations helping them realize that a robust safety culture needs
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to integrate hop principles this involves viewing safety not just as a set of rules
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but as a dynamic interplay of factors influenced by human behavior organizational processes
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and cultural attitudes and with that realization i'm sure you've been able to make impactful
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changes in the organizations you've worked with it's indeed fascinating to hear how your
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personal journey and career path have unfolded samantha thank you jay it's been rewarding
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to see organizations evolve their safety culture and recognize the unseen players or factors
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that impact safety it's a continuous journey and i'm always learning from each organization
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and situation i encounter as we delve deeper into the concept of safety culture it's crucial
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to understand that it's not just about policies and procedures on paper it's a living breathing
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ecosystem shaped by a myriad of factors that aren't always visible at first glance exactly
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jay safety culture goes beyond the usual check boxes it's about the deeply embedded norms
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values and beliefs that guide how individuals within an organization perceive and act upon
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safety issues and this perception isn't just about what's overtly communicated often there
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are subtle cues within an organization that influence how safety is prioritized right
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these unspoken rules can be quite powerful sometimes even more so than formal guidelines
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they can dictate whether employees feel empowered to speak up about potential hazards or if
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they feel pressured to maintain the status quo let's talk about the concept of safety
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culture in practical terms what are some common misconceptions that you've encountered in
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your experience a common misconception is that safety culture can be changed overnight
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with a few new policies or a revamped safety program but in reality it requires a fundamental
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shift in organizational mindset which takes time and persistent effort it sounds like
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it involves a continuous process of engagement and reflection more than anything else absolutely
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it's about creating an environment where continuous learning and adaptation are encouraged
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organizations need to understand the dynamic nature of safety culture how can organizations
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better identify these hidden influences that shape their safety culture one effective approach
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is to engage in open dialogues with employees across all levels understanding their perspectives
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can illuminate underlying issues that might not be evident through traditional safety
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audits that's a powerful insight it seems that understanding safety culture requires
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empathy and active listening just as much as it does analytical assessments exactly
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building a robust safety culture is ultimately about fostering trust and mutual respect and
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that only happens when leaders truly listen and act upon the insights gathered from their
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teams this conversation about safety culture seems to tie perfectly into understanding
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its relationship with other factors which brings us closer to our next topic but before
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we get there any final thoughts on this subject Samantha only that organizations should remember
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safety culture is not static it's vital to continually evaluate and nurture it as an
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integral part of achieving operational excellence as we continue our conversation on safety
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culture we now delve into the principles of human organizational performance or hop and
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how they reveal the hidden intricacies that exist within our organizations notably hop
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isn't just a set of guidelines but it lends through which we can view and understand the
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complexities of human behavior within safety systems that's right Jay hop offers a unique
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perspective focusing on the system rather than the individual it's about recognizing
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that human error is inevitable and that systems should be designed to absorb and manage these
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errors it's a transition from blaming individuals to understanding systemic influences exactly
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Samantha by shifting our focus from the notion of error as a personal failing hop allows
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us to consider how organizational structures policies and cultures contribute to safety
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outcomes this understanding prompts leaders to emphasize learning and improvement rather
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than punishment and Jay this shift in perspective really opens up new avenues for enhancing safety
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when organizations adopt hop principles they start to see errors as opportunities for deeper
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inquiry and learning it's about being proactive rather than reactive Amanda I agree wholeheartedly
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hop posits that safety isn't the absence of error but the presence of defenses it's
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fascinating to see how this approach not only mitigates risks but also fosters an environment
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of mutual respect and open communication within teams moreover embracing the hop approach
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encourages us to engage with frontline workers as key informants their insights can reveal
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systemic vulnerabilities that might otherwise go unnoticed thus playing a crucial role in
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shaping more resilient safety cultures and in this way the principles of hop are instrumental
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in unmasking the players behind safety culture by focusing on human interactions and systemic
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conditions we gain a clearer picture of the unseen dynamics at play within organizations
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this understanding is crucial as we move forward to exploring other unseen forces at play in
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shaping safety culture moving beyond the human organizational performance insights let's
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delve into the unseen forces shaping safety policies and practices from within our guest
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Samantha Jones has done extensive research in this field and is here to share her insights
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thank you Jay one of the most underestimated factors impacting safety culture is actually
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the organizational structure itself many assume it's all about leadership decisions or frontline
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practices but the truth lies deeper the way an organization is structured can often dictate
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its safety dynamics subconsciously that's fascinating Samantha could you elaborate on
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how organizational structure imposes these unseen forces certainly for instance hierarchy
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levels and communication channels within an organization have a profound effect in a rigid
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top-down structure crucial safety information might not reach all levels effectively leading
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to misunderstandings or compliance issues meanwhile a more horizontal structure might
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foster open communication and quicker dissemination of safety practices it sounds like there's
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a delicate balance that organizations need to strike how do these structures impact decision-making
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processes the decision-making process is often influenced by who holds the power to decide
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what in many cases those making safety policy decisions are far removed from the day-to-day
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operations where the realities of these policies play out this gap can lead to policies that
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look great on paper but aren't practical or effective on the ground it's a crucial insight
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it seems that aligning policymaking with operational realities is key can you talk about any specific
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mechanisms that organizations can use to identify these unseen forces one effective approach
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is to establish cross-functional teams that include members from all organizational levels
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these teams can provide diverse perspectives and identify gaps that might otherwise go
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unnoticed additionally maintaining open feedback channels encourages all employees to share
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their insights and concerns ensuring a more holistic view of the safety culture that makes
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a lot of sense before we transition to our next segment what advice would you give leaders
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wanting to address these unseen forces i'd advise leaders to engage in active listening
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and be willing to adapt their perspectives based on feedback from all organizational
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levels encouraging a culture of transparency and continuous improvement can reveal these
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unseen forces and pave the way for more effective safety practices thank you samantha as we
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continue our exploration of safety culture let's start questioning the conventional
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narratives that often go unchallenged stay with us for more insights as we move forward
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let's take a moment to challenge the conventional narratives that often cloud the real contributors
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to safety culture these narratives tend to oversimplify the dynamics at play within organizations
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masking the complexity and the real challenges employees face on a daily basis absolutely
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jay the typical narrative often focuses solely on compliance and metrics such as incident
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rates and lost time while these are important they don't fully capture the essence of safety
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culture or the human and organizational behaviors that drive those metrics exactly samantha
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by focusing purely on numbers organizations might miss the opportunity to delve into the
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human side of the equation the narrative is often driven by the need to report positive
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statistics but what about the underlying practices that actually contribute to a safer work environment
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there's a tendency to view safety solely through the lens of compliance which can lead to a
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compliance culture rather than a true safety culture what we need is a shift from checking
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boxes on a form to understanding why people make the decisions they do and how the organization's
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culture supports those decisions and by dissecting these conventional narratives we can start
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to peel back the layers and reveal the why behind behaviors we start to discover what
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really influences safety culture beyond the surface level it's about shifting the conversation
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from blame and punishment to understanding and support when employees feel less like
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they are under constant scrutiny and more like partners in safety they are more likely
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to participate actively in safety initiatives as we continue this discussion it's crucial
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uh to keep questioning and digging deeper the next step is to shine a spotlight on
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those hidden players who drive and influence safety culture in ways we sometimes don't
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see immediately now shifting gears let's dig deeper into the roles of the unseen players
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within organizations those who impact safety culture in ways we might not immediately recognize
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while the official policies and safety protocols often bear the fingerprints of top level management
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it's the nuanced behaviors and decisions made by less visible players that truly shape
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the day-to-day safety practices within a company exactly jay it's remarkable how much influence
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these hidden figures have take for instance the role of maintenance staff or supervisors
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in the field they are the ones who ensure equipment is functioning safely often making
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critical judgments on the fly absolutely samantha their insights based on direct hands-on experience
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can sometimes challenge or even override official guidelines not out of disregard but in pursuit
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of real-time safety solutions and let's not forget the influence of experienced frontline
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workers they often hold institutional knowledge and have a keen sense of potential risks which
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they relay through informal channels shaping a safety-minded culture organically right
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amanda this kind of informal knowledge transfer is crucial and often goes unacknowledged it's
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a direct illustration of human organizational performance in action where real understanding
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transcends formal training moreover these hidden players are pivotal during transitions
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or changes in procedures their ability to adapt and communicate effectively within their
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teams ensures smoother transitions and continuity and safety practices so what we're saying
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is that while we may focus our attention on the top-down approach to safety compliance
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it's these ground-level interactions and decisions that sustain the safety culture in an organization
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exactly by acknowledging and empowering these unsung heroes organizations can cultivate
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a robust safety environment that doesn't just exist on paper but thrives in daily operations
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and it's such acknowledgement and integration that can bridge the gap between safety directives
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and practical application facilitating a more resilient organizational safety culture as
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we move forward it's crucial to understand how sometimes the most significant influencers
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of safety culture are not the ones on the organizational chart samantha you've given
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this a lot of thought can you shed some light on these overlooked influencers within organizations
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absolutely jay when we talk about safety culture the typical focus is on leadership and formal
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roles like safety officers however many real influencers are those who operate quietly
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in the background these include longtime employees informal leaders or those who may not carry
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a formal title but have earned the respect of their peers their day-to-day actions and
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beliefs can significantly impact the way safety measures are perceived and adhered to by others
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it's fascinating really to consider that someone without a formal leadership role can wield
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so much influence could you provide a practical example of how these individuals might affect
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safety culture in a tangible way certainly consider an experienced technician who's
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been with the company for decades while they may not have a formal management position
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their extensive knowledge and willingness to share it can influence how newer employees
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view and prioritize safety if this person values and practices safety it sets a standard
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among their peers conversely if they're dismissive of certain protocols it can lead to a culture
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of non-compliance among their colleagues that's such an important point samantha it reminds
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us of the human side of safety culture how relationships and respect play into adhering
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to safety policies how might organizations better leverage these informal influencers
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to improve their overall safety practices organizations would benefit from recognizing
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and integrating these informal influencers into safety discussions and decision-making
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processes this could involve inviting them to safety meetings seeking their input on
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safety policies or even creating mentorship programs where they can guide less experienced
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colleagues by valuing their insights organizations can create more organic buy-in to safety initiatives
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resulting in a more robust safety culture great insights samantha it's clear that
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sometimes the people who influence safety outcomes aren't those with the loudest voices
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but those with the most genuine connections and lived experiences within the company as
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we prepare to delve into our next discussion it's worth keeping these insights in mind
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to truly understand how safety culture is shaped within an organization we must look
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beyond the formal structures and standard operating procedures there exists as less
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obvious but immensely powerful force at play the informal network let's look at a case
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study to illustrate this point imagine a mid-size manufacturing company on the surface their
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safety protocols are by the book strictly aligning with industry regulations but dig
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a little deeper and you'll discover an entirely different layer the informal structures where
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the real power often lies take for instance the role of informal leaders these are individuals
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not necessarily informal leadership roles but are incredibly influential within their
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peer groups it might be the veteran machine operator whom everyone turns to for advice
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or the administrative assistant who seems to have a connection with every department
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in an arcade study a particular informal leader let's call him bob became pivotal in spreading
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crucial safety messages he wasn't on the safety committee nor did he hold any managerial
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position but his experience and natural charisma made him a central figure when a new safety
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regulation was introduced it was bob who interpreted it in a way that resonated with his colleagues
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simplifying complex language into practical terms everyone could understand this dissemination
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of information through the informal network ensured that safety practices were actually
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understood and implemented on the ground rather than just existing as another policy on paper
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but the influence doesn't stop with individuals the network strength also lies in its nodes
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and connections the relationships built over coffee breaks shared stories and mutual trust
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these bonds facilitate the rapid spread of information often much faster than any formal
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announcement could achieve so what does this tell us well for one it underscores the importance
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of recognizing and engaging with these informal networks when aiming to improve safety culture
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organizations that ignore this layer often struggle to understand why they're meticulously
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crafted safety protocols aren't yielding the desired outcomes as we prepare to delve
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deeper into the unseen facets that influence organizational safety keep these informal
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networks in mind they are just as powerful if not more so than the overt power structures
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that are usually scrutinized continuing from our last discussion the interplay of power
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and politics in an organization is a critical yet often overlooked component that can greatly
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influence safety culture as we delve into this we begin to unravel the hidden dynamics
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that can either strengthen or undermine safety initiatives it's not just about the policies
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we see on paper but about who holds the power to enforce or ignore these policies absolutely
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jay in my time working with various organizations i've seen how some individuals due to their
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position of power can significantly impact the effectiveness of safety protocols this
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goes beyond the written guidelines entering into personal relationships and influence
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that aren't captured in official documents samantha you've touched on an important point
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the unofficial networks and alliances within a company can often dictate whether a safety
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culture is thriving or failing how do you think these internal politics play out practically
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in shaping safety culture i've observed that those in unofficial leadership roles often
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have more sway than their job titles suggest for example a respected long-term employee
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might have more influence over workplace behavior than even higher level managers this can be
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both a benefit and a barrier depending on whether they prioritize safety or not that's
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fascinating so it's not necessarily about job titles but about influence and respect
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manna what's your take on this dynamic how does it affect the implementation of safety
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practices in many cases i've seen formal processes being overshadowed by these informal
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power structures when key influences dismiss safety practices as unnecessary it sends a
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clear signal throughout the organization it creates an environment where following rules
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isn't valued over fitting in with the prevailing mindset seems crucial then to identify these
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hidden influencers early in any safety culture assessment samantha from your experience what
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strategies have been effective in navig
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