Safety Culture or Accidents Culture - Practicing Accountability Management

Abstract

An unsafe act is a cultural entity of an organisation that requires correction by its factory occupier, who needs to follow it, review it till correction failing which he or she is liable for a court correction as it affects lives of the workforce. Most corporates adopt double standards on safety spendings as well as remain significantly low on safety initiatives. Safety culture in the country and amongst the corporates can not be developed until and unless people are involved, managements are focused, institutions are driving it, government officials are enforcing it, and all employees reinforce it. Everyone who believes in humanity should participate in this endeavour. Accidents culture must be questioned and fix everyone’s accountability for achieving positive safety culture in organisations. Power of spiritual safety is that celebrating religious festivals at workplaces is not an idol worship but to follow behavioural characteristics of those spiritual avatars or leaders for developing positive and supportive safety culture for saving lives. Behavioural accountability and business sustainability are inherently correlated for its implications. This research was conducted over a year during 2024-25 in India, including 252 Health, Safety, Environment (HSE) professionals from diverse industry sectors. Companies must give up their accidents culture and adopt accountability in organisations to rebuild positive safety culture. The upper leadership must provide resources and funds for safety culture that employees need. Eight themes are identified and discussed from qualitative and quantitative data of this research to identify and address the safety culture accountability management. Moving an organisational culture from an accident culture to a positive and supportive safety culture requires multiple actions under a long-term planned approach. Training for all manpower as well as a clear strategic approach to rebuild safety culture are utmost important. Lack of the safety minded leadership on the top of corporates gives way to injuries and fatalities of workers. There is a strong need to develop internal capabilities for controlling risks rather depending upon consultants for creating sustainable results on supportive safety culture in organisations. Managing Director visits the shop-floors is an emotional boost for employees.

Keywords: Accidents, BBS, Culture, Safety, Organisations, Accountability, Management

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