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?

14 September 2006TNO / Safety at corebusiness3 The five core areas in which TNO is active Quality of LifeDefence, Security and Safety Built Environment and Geosciences Science and Industry Information and Communication Technology

14 September 2006TNO / Safety at corebusiness4 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)

14 September 2006TNO / Safety at corebusiness5 Content of research Activities: Literature study Statement list checked with (12) companies Risk-analysis of sectors: chemical, metal, food industry Case studies => Auditmethod (5 companies) Present activities: Determining the effects of actual interventions in safety (2 companies)

14 September 2006TNO / Safety at corebusiness6 How we look at:

14 September 2006TNO / Safety at corebusiness7 Core business Primary process = transformation of: a) materials in products or b) human energy in services Transformation inputoutput Supportive processes Coördinating processes Coördinating processes = systems, standards, tasks, responsibilities Supportive processes = resources and means Core business = the way a company defines itself!!!

14 September 2006TNO / Safety at corebusiness8 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

14 September 2006TNO / Safety at corebusiness9 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

14 September 2006TNO / Safety at corebusiness10 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

14 September 2006TNO / Safety at corebusiness11 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.

14 September 2006TNO / Safety at corebusiness12 Results of Audit from case studies (2005) ABCDE Structure3,72,94,31,72,4 Culture2,73,74,71,73,4 Learning3,53,341,52,8 External2,83,5332,5

14 September 2006TNO / Safety at corebusiness13 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

14 September 2006TNO / Safety at corebusiness14 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

14 September 2006TNO / Safety at corebusiness15 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.

14 September 2006TNO / Safety at corebusiness16 More info? Johan Gort TNO The Netherlands Annick Starren TNO The Netherlands