Certify for the Safety Culture Ladder?

'There is no such thing as a quick fix'

With the Safety Culture Ladder (SCL) gaining prominence in the construction industry, building owners are wondering if the time for certification has come for them as well. And if so, what should they consider? What can they expect during the SCL certification process?

The Safety Culture Ladder deals with safety awareness within an organization. Within an organization with developed safety awareness, safety is a topic that is openly discussed. The workplace is a setting where safety is secured at all levels of the organization. This means that during the SCL certification process, the corporate culture is assessed. The auditors engage - randomly - in discussions with employees in all layers of the company and thus form a picture of the level of safety awareness.

Conversations in a relaxed atmosphere

Thus, during the SCL certification process, it is not about documents being checked or situations being scrutinized are taken. It involves determining the degree of safety awareness in attitude,
behavior and culture. Lizette van der Graaf, Lead Auditor at DNV GL, explains how this takes shape in practice: "To determine the true intrinsic motivation for safety, two auditors engage in discussions with a large number of employees. The conversations can cover all sorts of aspects and generally proceed in a relaxed manner."

Toolbox meeting

As an example, Van der Graaf tells of a company that had just completed a toolbox meeting. The toolbox meeting came up in several conversations. "We inquired how the toolbox meeting had gone. Who attended? What resources were used? What topics were covered? If everyone gives virtually the same answers, that will be the truth and you don't need to ask for corroborating documents. During the audit, the auditors engage all the senses to get as complete a picture as possible of the level of safety awareness."

Getting on the ladder

Quick certification on the higher steps is difficult. There is no "quick fix" for behavior. Smaller organizations are more easily influenced; influencing thousands of employees requires a sustainable, consistent policy. Getting in on step 4 or 5 is also an illusion, Van der Graaf meanwhile knows. "The SCL has been applied since 2012 and the number of companies certified at the highest level is minimal. It requires tremendous ambition to grow."

Measurable results

On the other hand, moving up to the second step is certainly feasible. Van der Graaf therefore sees an upward trend in the number of certified companies. "The number of applications for certification is growing because a link has been made with the tender criteria. But the main objective remains the development of safety awareness and reducing the number of accidents. It remains difficult to make the result measurable. The level of safety awareness is also influenced, for example, by the inflow and outflow of employees. As a result, the theme requires continuous attention. And that, of course, is exactly the intention."

Want to learn more about the Safety Culture Ladder?

See: www.dnvgl.nl/veiligheidsladder