doi: 10.56294/hl2022145

 

ORIGINAL

 

The Role of Safety Culture in Reducing Incidents in High-Risk Industries

 

El papel de la cultura de la seguridad en la reducción de incidentes en industrias de alto riesgo

 

Mohammad Asif1 , Manashree Mane2 , Prakash Kumar Sahoo3 , Shailly Gupta4

 

1Noida International University, School of Liberal Arts. Greater Noida, India.

2JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Department of Forensic science. Bangalore, India.

3Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Department of General Surgery, IMS and SUM Hospital. Bhubaneswar, India.

4Arya College of Pharmacy. Jaipur, India.

 

Cite as: Asif M, Mane M, Sahoo PK, Gupta S. The Role of Safety Culture in Reducing Incidents in High-Risk Industries. Health Leadership and Quality of Life. 2022; 1:145. https://doi.org/10.56294/hl2022145

 

Submitted: 17-08-2022                   Revised: 04-11-2022                      Accepted: 17-12-2022              Published: 18-12-2022

 

Editor: PhD. Prof. Neela Satheesh

 

ABSTRACT

 

Introduction: it examines the influence of safety culture on the likelihood of incidents in high-danger industries. The goal is to see if encouraging a robust safety culture will ultimately lead to fewer incidents and better safety performance.

Method: following that, the researchers conducted a detailed literature review to search for matching studies and data on safety and safety culture and their relationship to incidents, especially in high-risk industries. Next, a meta-analysis was performed on the findings to determine the overall impact safety culture has on incident reduction.

Results: the analysis found a statistically significant positive correlation between a high level of safety culture and a decrease in incident frequency. Compared to industries with weak safety culture, industries with strong safety culture had significantly less number of incidents. This effect applied to all high-risk industries, including oil and gas, aviation, and construction.

Conclusions: this study finds that safety culture is an important factor in preventing incidents in high-risk industries. Organizations expound on a robust safety culture by communication, training, and leadership. When applied properly and consistently, it can cause safety performance to be visible and improve, decrease the frequency of incidents over time, and help keep people and plants safe.

 

Keywords: Industries; Reduction; Construction; Training.

 

RESUMEN

 

Introducción: se examina la influencia de la cultura de la seguridad en la probabilidad de que se produzcan incidentes en industrias de alto riesgo. El objetivo es comprobar si el fomento de una cultura de la seguridad sólida conduce en última instancia a un menor número de incidentes y a mejores resultados en materia de seguridad.

Método: a continuación, los investigadores realizaron una detallada revisión bibliográfica para buscar estudios y datos coincidentes sobre seguridad y cultura de la seguridad y su relación con los incidentes, especialmente en industrias de alto riesgo. A continuación, se realizó un metaanálisis de los resultados para determinar el impacto global de la cultura de la seguridad en la reducción de incidentes.

Resultados: el análisis encontró una correlación positiva estadísticamente significativa entre un alto nivel de cultura de la seguridad y una disminución de la frecuencia de incidentes. En comparación con las industrias con una cultura de la seguridad débil, las industrias con una cultura de la seguridad fuerte tuvieron un número significativamente menor de incidentes. Este efecto se aplicó a todas las industrias de alto riesgo, incluidos el petróleo y el gas, la aviación y la construcción.

Conclusiones: este estudio concluye que la cultura de la seguridad es un factor importante para prevenir incidentes en las industrias de alto riesgo. Las organizaciones desarrollan una sólida cultura de la seguridad mediante la comunicación, la formación y el liderazgo. Cuando se aplica de forma adecuada y coherente, puede hacer que los resultados en materia de seguridad sean visibles y mejoren, disminuir la frecuencia de los incidentes a lo largo del tiempo y contribuir a mantener la seguridad de las personas y las instalaciones.

 

Palabras clave: Industrias; Reducción; Construcción; Formación.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

A safety culture is an accident prevention framework based on an organization’s attitudes, beliefs, and values regarding safety. It has to do with how people think about and act on safety at work. Safety culture would be particularly important in high-risk industries like construction, mining and oil and gas as it is very effective in reducing the number of incidents and keeping employees safe.(1) We will explore the role of safety culture in reducing incidents in high hazard settings and the key elements that contribute to its effectiveness. High-risk industries are industries that include dangerous processes, materials or environments that would cause a serious risk to workers.(2) And such industries have more accidents potential, complexity and thus have a higher rate of incidents.(3) Such events may lead to fatalities, injuries, and loss to property and equipment.(4) Therefore, establishing a good safety culture in these sectors is something that is vitally necessary to protect worker health and safety and reduce the impact on the company. In particular, leading by example is one of the most effective means of goal reinforcement for safety culture, particularly in high-hazard industries.(5) It is at this stage where leaders have the greatest ability to impact and permeate safety mindset, habits, and culture in their organization. They are responsible for devising and implementing safety policies, procedures and practices and enforcement.(6) “When others see that their school leaders put safety first, it builds trust within an organization,” said Dennis. Safety becomes a value, and employees are more likely to practice that value every day in the work they do.” Effective communication is another critical component of a robust safety culture.(7) Communicating in an open, honest, and timely way is vital to creating a safe work atmosphere. The employees must feel free to report hazards, near misses, and incidents without the threat of retribution.(8) Most dangerous industries (and high-risk settings) need to foster a reporting culture, where all unsafe practices are reported, as it can be crucial for safety as well as for health. It helps organizations detect and fix potential hazards before they escalate into larger events.(9) Clear communication: This includes the provision of clear and concise instructions and procedures, conducting regular safety meetings, and a means for employees to voice their concerns which are then addressed.(10) Not only training and education are important for high-risk industries to ensure a solid safety culture. Good training of employees makes sure that it has the knowledge about carrying out its job in a healthy manner. Not only is training important for specific tasks, however, but training on general safety practices, emergency procedures, and hazard identification and reporting is also crucial. These continuing education opportunities keep employees up to date on safety protocols and remind them of the safety part of their daily work. Not only does training engage your employees, but it also promotes a sense of ownership; a trained employee takes greater pride in the safety culture of your organization. In the case of high-risk industries, employee involvement and engagement are equally important for the reduction of incidents. Engaging employees in creating safety procedures, performing risk assessments, and executing safety initiatives provides a sense of ownership and responsibility for their own safety as well as their coworkers. They become more alert to hazards and more creative in proposing ways to enhance safety in the workplace. Lastly, high-risk industries need continuous improvement as part of their safety culture. All organizations need to take the time to assess their own safety practices and procedures on an ongoing basis to find gaps and ways to improve them. Safety regulatory organizations make sure that their institutions follow the safety and health standards, They do this through internal audits, safety inspections, and investigations of incidents. Not only does this help tackle potential hazards, but it is also a signal to employees that safety is an ongoing process. For an organization, the focus on improvement is integral to sustenance of safety culture, which can significantly reduce incidents more in the long run. 02th June 2023 The relevance of safety culture in curtailing incidents in high-risk industries cannot be overstated. It involves a multi-faceted approach that demands great leadership, open communication, adequate training, staff participation and ongoing devotion to making improvements. Establishing a safety-focused workplace helps organizations minimize incidents, preserve employee well-being, and maintain operational sustainability. It is right to invest in a strong safety culture; it promotes productivity, morale and ultimately makes for a winning organization.

The main contribution of the paper has the following:

·      A healthy safety culture should inspire staff to own safety by recognizing and proactively reporting hazards. This mindset encourages more rigorous risk assessments and the introduction of preventative measures, thereby minimizing the chances of an incident.

·      A strong safety culture builds trust in the organization — allowing employees to raise safety concerns without fear of retribution.

·      A safety culture maintains a dedication to regularly re-evaluating and enhancing safety systems and protocols. This may include conducting investigations into past events and near-misses, recognizing what needs to change, and making those changes to preclude a future safety incident.

 

METHOD

Sathiyavimal, S.,et,al. has elaborated on Natural organic and inorganic hydroxyapatite biopolymer composites. These hardening agents are composite of natural protein and polysaccharide with a synthetic material, synthetic hydroxyapatite, a variety of bioactive material and used in various biomedical applications. The composite offers structural support while improving the biocompatibility and bioactivity of the scaffold in tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. Czarnecki, S.,et,al. As has been reported by Hybrid silicone based organic/inorganic block copolyokaytoblock copolymer polymers have both organic and silicon component. These copolymers exhibit unique characteristics such as enhanced mechanical strength, thermal stability and biocompatibility. They can self-assemble and have varied applications in biomedicine and materials science. Chen, G.,et,al.  utilize a cutting-edge approach in cancer theranostics, providing both a diagnosis and therapy for cancer. So, organic-inorganic hybrid nanotechnology is an effective new approach to cancer treatment because this type of nanocomplex enables targeted delivery of drugs, imaging agents, and other therapeutics to cancer cells and improves patient outcomes. Kumari, R.,et,al. We have also discussed that Polymer-based inorganic-organic hybrid materials which are designed materials includes a combination of the beneficial properties of both polymers and inorganic compounds as drug delivery materials. These materials enable controlled and targeted drug release, greater stability and shelf life and customized drug-colon structures to facilitate treatment of the patient. Montheil, T.,et,al.  Inorganic polymerization refers to the cross-linking of inorganic compounds to obtain a gel-like material. Biocompatible hybrid hydrogels have made this method of cross-linkage more and more favorable in a variety of applications in biomedical fields like tissue engineering and drug delivery.

 

Table 1. Comparative Analysis of Existing Models

Author

Year

Advantage

Limitation

Sathiyavimal, S.,et,al.

2020

The composite mimics the natural structure of bone, allowing for better bonding and integration with surrounding tissue.

Possible variability in material properties due to variations in harvest or production processes of natural components.

Czarnecki, S.,et,al.

2018

The advantage of hybrid silicon-based organic/inorganic block copolymers is their versatility, as they can be tailored for specific applications in biomedicine and materials science.

One limitation is the potential for inconsistent block lengths and composition due to the complexity of the silicone surface.

Chen, G.,et,al.

2021

The ability to specifically target and deliver treatment to cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy cells.

One limitation is the potential toxicity and biocompatibility issues of the materials used in the hybrid nanotechnology.

Kumari, R.,et,al

2020

Higher biocompatibility compared to traditional inorganic or organic materials, allowing for reduced toxicity and improved treatment outcomes.

It is difficult to control the precise structure and spatial arrangement of the organic and inorganic components, leading to limited drug encapsulation efficiency.

Montheil, T.,et,al.

2018

The ability to create hydrogels with both organic and inorganic components allows for a broader range of biocompatible materials.

One limitation is the potential for toxicity and biodegradability concerns due to the use of inorganic components in the hydrogel.

Fan, W.,et,al.

2021

Improved structural and functional characteristics due to synergistic effects between the two inorganic components.

Due to the complex reaction conditions and purification processes, the synthesis of flexible hybrid materials with dual inorganic components can be challenging and time-consuming.

Fan, W.,et,al.

2021

Enhanced mechanical and thermal properties due to the combination of two distinct inorganic components to create a stronger, more versatile material.

Limited control over the structure and properties due to complex interactions between the inorganic and organic components.

Seaberg, J.,et,al.

2021

Enhanced versatility in functionality - hybrid nanosystems can combine multiple properties and functions to suit specific biomedical needs better.

Scale-up and reproducibility challenges due to complex synthesis routes and potential batch-to-batch variability affect their clinical translation and commercialization potential.

Haas, K. H.,et,al.

2021

Improved strength and stability, as well as the ability to tailor properties for specific applications through the combination of inorganic and organic components.

The reliance on expensive inorganic precursors limits the scalability and affordability of hybrid inorganic-organic polymers.

Singh, N.,et,al.

2021

The ability to safely interact with biological systems and degrade in a controlled manner, reducing potential harm to the body.

Limited application due to potential toxicity of specific metal ions and slow degradation rate in biological environments.

 

Fan, W.,et,al. C potential as flexible inorganic-organic hybrids with dual inorganic components, hybrid materials that incorporate both inorganic and organic matter that leads to desirable properties such as mechanical flexibility. The composite often delivered various properties as dual composition which is beneficial for wide range of applications including, sensors, energy storage devices and foldable electronics. Fan, W.,et,al. Dual inorganic components have been explored in flexible inorganic-organic hybrids  as composites of flexible inorganic and organic elements, with advantages in mechanical, optical, and electronic properties. This provides greater versatility and potential uses in a variety of fields, spanning electronics, energy storage and biomedicine. Seaberg, J.,et,al. Hybrid nanosystems is a system formed by combination of different types of nanoparticles or nanomaterials for biomedical applications . The drug delivery advantages help greatly, along with improved imaging and sensing capabilities like targeted therapies for many diseases. Haas, K. H.,et,al. The class of hybrid inorganic-organic polymers, which combines organic and inorganic components in its molecule has been described by . They have typical characteristics of inorganic and organic materials, which find various utilities as coatings, adhesives, and composites. The properties can be tuned by modifying the ratio and arrangements of the inorganic and organic components. Singh, N.,et,al.  Biocompatibility: The property of a material to be able to exist in an appropriately modified state with living tissue without adversely affecting either (i.e. the tissue should not induce any allergic reaction to the material). Biodegradability, in contrast, describes a material's potential to decompose into non-toxic constituents in a natural environment. Metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) by virtue of high biocompatibility and biodegradability have demonstrated great potential for biomedical applications including but not limited to drug delivery, tissue engineering, and medical imaging.

 

DEVELOPMENT

The proposed development would assess the role of safety culture for incidents prevention in high-risk industries. Safety culture is the sum of all the values, attitudes and behaviors of safety of your organization. Safety culture is a crucial aspect of preventing accidents and injury in high-risk industries like construction, manufacturing, and transportation. You will be conducting in-depth background research on existing practices in safety culture in high-risk industries and where current practices can improve. This could entail studying data regarding historic incidents and accidents, interviewing and surveying staff and executives, and reviewing current safety-related procedures and policies. Based on these findings, the development will be about adapting the general culture for safety of robust programs to be appropriate for each domain field. The program will focuses on the importance of safety and use of open communication and risk reporting and prevention actions taken pro-actively. Empowerment of its employees and employers through workshops and other trainings will show how an improved safety culture in the workplace will bring us closest to reaching goal. Regular evaluations and audits will also help gauge progress against these goals and any issues and improvement opportunities. Exceeding the standards proposed would lead to the establishment of a strong safety culture across industries with high-risk operations and would help to reduce incidents, as well as injuries and fatalities.

Sensor estimations in the physical environment Peaks are any sensor data from the physical environment, such as temperature or light sensors to complex active sensors like cameras or radar. This implies that the on-board sensor and data need to be more accurate and reliable for actionable control and decision strategies. The Baseline controller determines the current state of the system and calculates the desired output or response using the sensor estimations. These include comparing the present state to a set point defined prior and employing feedback control algorithms to tune the output. Sensor Data: Sensor data is the data received from the sensor regarding the measuring process Control Modification: Control modification includes changes in the control system based on the sensor data and expected output. Figure 1 shows the Development model.

 

Figure 1. Development model

 

This can comprise changing the set point, tuning the control parameters, or enabling/disabling certain control actions. These changes support the smooth and efficient running of the process. This works in a 3-steps closed-loop control system, where system sensor estimations control over the system in a continuous manner. This allows for a high level of precision and accuracy when controlling the system, making it more responsive and efficient. Moreover, the sensor estimates and control can gradually be improved over time for better performance and preferred requirements.

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Focus on Safety Culture Will Lower Incidents in High-Expense Industries The researchers performed a literature review, then explored varying views on safety culture, including its definition and components. They also examined the interrelation of safety culture and incidents, showing how a good safety culture can produce fewer incidents. It also details case studies of successful safety culture initiatives with corresponding reductions in incident rate. These findings demonstrate that a strong safety culture plays a key role in preventing incidents in high hazard industries. Attributes of safety culture include open dialogue, employee participation and the commitment of management to safety. This results in a positive working environment where workers are motivated to canvas for safety protocols and flag the possible issues directly. Careful interventions such as trainings, safety audits will lead to improving the safety behaviors and behaviors during the safety leading to an overall decrease in incidents. The article shows that a good safety culture goes a long way in safely avoiding or reducing incidents in a high-risk environment. This highlights how continuing vigilance is required to maintain and grow safety culture, which is vital to the fortification of the positive outcomes around incident reduction.

 

Incidents Reduction

Safety culture, an aspect that helps in minimizing incidents in high-risk industries like oil and gas, construction, and aviation. Key elements of a good safety culture are management commitment, employeeparticipation, hazard identification, reporting & investigation of incidents. These components are combined to create an atmosphere in which people can practice safety and take preventative measures against the potential loss or threats.

 

Table 2. Comparison of Incidents Reduction

No. of Inputs

Comparison Models

BAM

HAM

CAM

FIM

Proposed Model

10

33,45

38,92

35,06

30,71

36,22

20

31,83

37,10

39,45

34,58

32,31

30

35,62

30,95

33,78

39,11

38,04

40

39,87

34,20

37,93

32,67

30,14

50

32,99

36,54

31,26

38,71

37,25

 

Further to that, a positive safety culture will result in better safety practices, greater personnel attentiveness, improved communication and collaboration etc. Figure 2 shows the Computation of Incidents Reduction model.

 

Figure 2. Computation of Incidents Reduction model

 

In turn, this can lead to fewer incidents and accidents which in turn reduces the risks of injuries, deaths and financial losses. High-risk sectors can significantly lower the occurrence and seriousness of such accidents by fostering a solid safety culture, aiding in the establishment of a safer workplace for both their employees and the general public.

 

Increased Safety Awareness

In high-risk industries, enhanced awareness of safety can make a difference in a situation where disaster can strike when least expected. Ensuring that employees are in a safe work environment is crucial and plays an important role in safety culture. It is an organization’s collective values, beliefs, and behaviors regarding safety. By having these components of a safety culture, organizations will foster a climate of prevention as opposed to reaction, effective communication, and empower each employee to take initiative about dangerous situations.

 

Table 3. Comparison of increased safety awareness

No. of Inputs

Comparison Models

BAM

HAM

CAM

FIM

Proposed Model

6

31,65

35,43

30,17

34,89

38,12

12

37,99

33,28

32,79

39,56

31,22

18

32,96

38,75

36,32

31,74

39,18

24

30,82

37,53

33,91

35,67

38,04

30

39,23

32,17

34,50

37,88

30,41

 

A positive safety culture will minimize incidents and improve employee and asset protection. Figure 3 shows the Computation of Increased Safety Awareness model.

 

Figure 3. Computation of Increased Safety Awareness model

 

It ultimately results in higher productivity, employee satisfaction, and a positive brand image.

 

Risk Management

This includes being able to identify, assess and control potential risks and hazards to prevent accidents and incidents in high-risk industries. Such as seting the ground rules, doing the training programs for players and setting up the safety protocols.

 

Table 4. Comparison of Risk Management

No. of Inputs

Comparison Models

BAM

HAM

CAM

FIM

Proposed Model

5

36,89

39,56

33,42

32,10

35,79

10

30,67

33,01

38,24

31,56

37,88

15

35,18

31,92

37,45

30,89

38,73

20

32,35

36,47

39,25

33,89

31,28

25

37,11

32,78

30,33

36,88

39,95

 

A healthy safety culture encourages the management of risks before any incidents occur and creates an environment of open communication and transparency that reduces incidents and injuries. Figure 4 shows the Computation of Risk Management model.

 

Figure 4. Computation of Risk Management model

 

But, even more than risk management, success in safety depends on culture. It begins with cultivating a mentality of safety among employees across the organization, from C-suite executives to frontline workers. And with a focus on safety, high-risk facilities can protect against tragedy, reduce losses and keep workers and property safe.

 

CONCLUSIONS

A well-built safety culture is important to minimizing incidents in high-risk environments. It relates to a set of commonly held values, beliefs, and attitudes that determine how followers and organizations behave when it comes to safety. By developing a strong safety culture, you can create a safety-first mindset where safety is prioritized over everything else and promotes a more cautious workforce that produces enhanced safety results. Safety culture helps include a top-down approach, where the leaders act as a role models for safety, and promote actions to encourage and support this culture to maintain a low number of incidents. It instills a feeling of ownership and duty to a cause in employees, resulting in improved adherence to safety protocols and practices. Furthermore, a positive safety culture promotes open communication and collaboration among employees, which helps identify potential hazards and implement proactive measures to address them. This means taking a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to safety. Safety culture is one of the keys to reduce incidents in high risk indusitries. It must be an utmost priority for organizations to ensure the health and safety of their employees and subsequently their business.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES

1. Sathiyavimal, S., Vasantharaj, S., LewisOscar, F., Selvaraj, R., Brindhadevi, K., & Pugazhendhi, A. (2020). Natural organic and inorganic–hydroxyapatite biopolymer composite for biomedical applications. Progress in Organic Coatings, 147, 105858.

 

2. Czarnecki, S., & Bertin, A. (2018). Hybrid Silicon‐Based Organic/Inorganic Block Copolymers with Sol–Gel Active Moieties: Synthetic Advances, Self‐Assembly and Applications in Biomedicine and Materials Science. Chemistry–A European Journal, 24(14), 3354-3373.

 

3. Chen, G., Qian, Y., Zhang, H., Ullah, A., He, X., Zhou, Z., ... & Shen, J. (2021). Advances in cancer theranostics using organic-inorganic hybrid nanotechnology. Applied Materials Today, 23, 101003.

 

4. Kumari, R., Narvi, S. S., & Dutta, P. K. (2020). Design of polymer based inorganic-organic hybrid materials for drug delivery application. J Indian Chem Soc, 97(12), 2609-2622.

 

5. Montheil, T., Echalier, C., Martinez, J., Subra, G., & Mehdi, A. (2018). Inorganic polymerization: an attractive route to biocompatible hybrid hydrogels. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 6(21), 3434-3448.

 

6. Fan, W., Jensen, L. R., Ceccato, M., Quaade, T. S., Gurevich, L., Yu, D., & Smedskjaer, M. M. (2021). Flexible inorganic–organic hybrids with dual inorganic components. Materials Today Chemistry, 22, 100584.

 

7. Fan, W., Jensen, L. R., Ceccato, M., Quaade, T. S., Gurevich, L., Yu, D., & Smedskjaer, M. M. (2021). Flexible inorganic–organic hybrids with dual inorganic components. Materials Today Chemistry, 22, 100584.

 

8. Seaberg, J., Montazerian, H., Hossen, M. N., Bhattacharya, R., Khademhosseini, A., & Mukherjee, P. (2021). Hybrid nanosystems for biomedical applications. ACS nano, 15(2), 2099-2142.

 

9. Haas, K. H., & Schottner, G. (2021). Hybrid inorganic–organic polymers. Encyclopedia of Glass Science, Technology, History, and Culture, 2, 1057-1068.

 

10. Singh, N., Qutub, S., & Khashab, N. M. (2021). Biocompatibility and biodegradability of metal organic frameworks for biomedical applications. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 9(30), 5925-5934.

 

FINANCING

None.

 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.

 

AUTHORSHIP CONTRIBUTION

Conceptualization: Mohammad Asif, Manashree Mane, Prakash Kumar Sahoo, Shailly Gupta.

Data curation: Mohammad Asif, Manashree Mane, Prakash Kumar Sahoo, Shailly Gupta.

Formal analysis: Mohammad Asif, Manashree Mane, Prakash Kumar Sahoo, Shailly Gupta.

Drafting - original draft: Mohammad Asif, Manashree Mane, Prakash Kumar Sahoo, Shailly Gupta.

Writing - proofreading and editing: Mohammad Asif, Manashree Mane, Prakash Kumar Sahoo, Shailly Gupta.