Qualitative Assessment Methods
Safety culture assessments for gains in safety performance
Optimizing your company’s safety culture and thereby reducing or eliminating harm to people, assets and the environment is a complex undertaking. A good starting point is a qualitative assessment that evaluates the key components of safety culture.
We recognize that to truly measure safety culture; a combination of assessments provides the most accurate picture. To this end, we have developed qualitative assessment methods that support our quantitative techniques and reliably measure the markers of a healthy safety culture.
Just as important as the tools we use are the people who employ them. To provide our clients with the most accurate results possible, our team of experienced professionals, many of them psychologists and sociologists, carry out the evaluations and analyses.
Here, as elsewhere, a scientific approach underpins all that we do in the name of safety.
Your Benefits
- Reduction or elimination of damage to people, property and the environment
- Optimization of your company’s safety culture
- Fulfilling the safety expectations of customers and partners
Our Approach
The following qualitative evaluations identify areas where safety culture is effective and safety performance is strong, as well as gaps and weaknesses:
- Observation – this is our “boots on the ground” approach. By observing the behaviors people demonstrate and how they make decisions, e.g. what information they use, we can gain an understanding of the level of care they demonstrate towards each other, the processes/procedures they have in place, and the equipment and plant around them.
- Audits – by auditing a selection of risk assessments, permits, procedures, etc. we can understand what the standards and expectations are and, in tandem with observation, can see how they are applied.
- Interviews – interviews, especially with senior leaders and management, give us insight into the intentions of those who create the culture that pervades the workplace. We explore the underlying beliefs of top managers about their role in creating a culture of care. All interviews are semi-structured allowing a great depth of information to be collected.
- Focus groups – to gain further insight into the reasons behind survey responses, behaviors and decision making, we conduct focus groups with a range of people from all levels of the organization.
The results of these evaluations form the basis for our suggested strategies for improvement. With our special combination of passionate commitment and scientific rigor, we tailor our approach to each client, refining their safety culture through meaningful change and sustainable solutions.
Why DEKRA?
- We are experts in designing and conducting reliable qualitative assessments.
- We have a winning combination of enthusiasm and expertise.
- We specialize in tailor-made methodologies and solutions.