Safety FAQs

FAQ Guidance on Safety Culture

  • What is safety culture?
    There are many definitions but an easy one is if “culture” is how we do things here, then “safety culture” is how we do safety here.  Clearly, it involves behaviors, actions, beliefs, values, and group norms.
  • How can I see it?
    You can easily see it from within the group by observing folks.  How do they discuss safety, act on it, and not act on it.  Unless you are within it, or better yet doing ethnographic research, you may not see it.
  • Can I easily measure it?
    Because it involves behaviors, beliefs, values, and norms, it isn’t easy to measure. 
  • If not safety culture, what else could I easily measure?
    The consensus is that “safety climate” (how we think about safety culture) is easier to measure than safety culture (the norms, values, behaviors, etc.).  Even this is challenging but is possible.
  • Are there certain factors or areas that a group might consider relative to their safety culture?
    Some areas to consider might include communication, mistakes, lessons learned, caring about each other, trust, training, learning, power dynamics, hazard assessment, relative risk, mentoring, etc.
  • What are some starting points for drafting a safety culture statement for a team or group?
    Some helpful starting points or prompts might include:
  • How will we show we care about each other?
  • How will we ensure effective communication?
  • What are our values?  Where does safety fit in?
  • How will we assess hazards as they change?
  • How will we learn as a group?
  • How will we respond to incidents including close calls?
  • How will we ensure that all voices are heard?
  • How will we grow and mature as a team?
Dr. Holly Oldroyd

2023 College of Engineering Lab Safety Award Winner

Congratulations to Holly Oldroyd, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, for winning the 2023 College of Engineering Lab Safety Award. Dr. Oldroyd's lab studies land-water-atmosphere interactions using field operations. This includes the study of evaporation, heat exchanges, and greenhouse gas fluxes. These observations are used to develop new models that can be used in a number of applications, including hydrological models, numerical weather predictions, satellite remote sensing products, pollutant/smoke transport and wind energy.

This award recognizes the research lab that demonstrates the strongest commitment to laboratory safety, based on a combination of inspection findings and questionnaires from safety professionals. These awards are endorsed by the faculty-led Chemical and Lab Safety Committee.

The College of Engineering has a dynamic program to facilitate a culture of safety.  Some of these initiatives include:

  • A Director of Safety to help drive our efforts
  • A safety culture and risk team of career staff throughout the college
  • A Faculty Safety Culture Advisory Committee
  • A Graduate Student Safety Culture Advisory Committee
  • Our safety culture and risk survey of all graduate students, faculty, and staff in the college
  • A series of monthly safety/health learning events
  • A holistic view and frame for our approaches to safety culture and risk