Johan Gort & Annick Starren

Johan Gort, Teamleader Safety

Johan Gort & Annick Starren

Safety as core business of companies in The Netherlands

14 September 2006TNO / Safety at corebusiness2

Content

• How we look at Safety at corebusiness• Learning in safety• Features for good safety performances• The impact of interventions• How to go further?


The five core areas in which TNO is active

Quality of Life Defence, Security and Safety

Built Environment and Geosciences

Science and Industry

Information and Communication Technology


Safety at corebusiness

• Assumption in safety research is that the more closely safety is linked to the core business the more control is possible

• But: what are the factors that stimulate / obstruct a greater link between safety and core business?

• And:how can companies and government influence these factors?

• (Thanks to Ministry of Social Affairs)


Content of research

Activities:• Literature study• Statement list checked with (12) companies• Risk-analysis of sectors: chemical, metal, food industry• Case studies => Auditmethod ‘Safety@corebusiness’

(5 companies)

Present activities:• Determining the effects of actual interventions in safety

(2 companies)2006

2003


How we look at: Safety@corebusiness

Core activities

Core values

Core competencies

Learning

Structure Culture

External

External

External

Safety performance


Core business• Primary process = transformation of:

a) materials in products or b) human energy in services

Transformationinput output

Supportive processes

Coördinating processes

• Coördinating processes = systems, standards, tasks, responsibilities• Supportive processes = resources and means

• Core business = the way a company defines itself!!!


Safety structure

• All positions, processe, policies and systems (to work safely)

• Safety management system is a method to control risks by the management process

• Characteristics:- policy & planning- goals- procedures- communication

Controle encorrigerendemaatregelen

Beleid

Planning

Implementatie enuitvoering

Beoordeling doorde directie

Continueverbetering


Safety culture

• The way we work here• Shared assumptions which have been developed over tim within

a group to deal with problems• That part of the organisational culture which influences attitudes

towards risks • Schein:

Artefacts

Espoused values

Basic assumptions


Learning in safety

Know & understand

Basic assumptions

Espoused values

Rules and procedures

Behaviour

Results

Do

Done

Shall & may

Want & be

Single loop

Double loop

Triple loop

Cultural loop


External

• Role the company plays to:- government- suplliers- contractors- standardization bodies- trade unions- vicinity- neighbours- inspectorates

• Dependent on own definition of core business • Important element for trust in company.


Results of Audit from case studies (2005) A B C D E

Structure 3,7 2,9 4,3 1,7 2,4

Culture 2,7 3,7 4,7 1,7 3,4

Learning 3,5 3,3 4 1,5 2,8

External 2,8 3,5 3 3 2,5


Conclusions from case studies

• Motivation for safety in the core business:- attitudes of management / employees as result or earlier experiences: safety as an intrinsic value- external pressure- how deep runs the learning process?- what kind of organisation wants the company to be?

• Is an integrated safety approach safer?- first part: construction company has a tight coupling but not the best accident rate

• Features for good safety performance:*) enforced safety role of middle managers*) well defined roles in safety of all actors in the company*) closed learning loops, with employee involvement*) attention for safety during change*) trust and openness towards external actors


Closing this research: effect of interventions

• In 2 companies quality improvement programs run: (TPM, WCM, Lean manufacturing),introducing learning groups for improvements (Kaizen, SGA, TIT).

• We want to know what specific actions on safety contribute to:- improved safety performance- raised safety attitude & behaviour of employees- ....

• Method: questionnaire and interviews.

• 1 company: cost benefit analysis of proposed intervention


How to go further…

• Dissemination of results by a popular publication for sectors

• More insight in effect of interventions (in safety & business impact) leads to better consultancy

• Validation of audit method

• Focus on leadership and learning in safety.


More info?

Johan GortTNO

The [email protected] 23 5549 566

Annick StarrenTNO

The [email protected]

0031 23 5549 549

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Johan Gort & Annick Starren