Leading Safety Culture from the Top - Eight CEO Safety Culture Journeys

In 2014 and 2015 eight air traffic service organisations (Austria, Canada, Hungary, Malta, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the UK) agreed to be interviewed at the highest level (typically Chief Executive Officer) on their... [ view full abstract ]

In 2014 and 2015 eight air traffic service organisations (Austria, Canada, Hungary, Malta, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the UK) agreed to be interviewed at the highest level (typically Chief Executive Officer) on their perspectives on safety culture. In particular they were asked whether their investment in safety culture (all had run one or more surveys) had paid off. The results are a set of insights from different leaders running different sizes of organisations with different national cultures. Yet there is surprising agreement on the importance of safety culture, particularly when the industry is undergoing significant change and is coming under increasing cost pressures. This paper will highlight the main arguments for safety culture that work at senior executive level, as well as insights into what they feel really matters in safety culture and Just Culture, and how both of these should be led from the top. It will also document all comments related to Human Factors as mentioned by several of the CEOs.