What safety performance indicators do you use to improve your safety culture?

1 Lagging indicators

Lagging indicators are the most widely used safety performance indicators, as they reflect the outcomes and consequences of safety incidents, such as injuries, illnesses, fatalities, and costs. They can help you identify the severity and frequency of safety problems, and evaluate the effectiveness of your safety interventions. However, lagging indicators have some limitations, as they only tell you what happened after the fact, and they may not capture the underlying causes and factors that contribute to safety risks and incidents.

2 Leading indicators

Leading indicators are the opposite of lagging indicators, as they measure the inputs and processes that influence safety performance, such as training, audits, inspections, near misses, and employee engagement. They can help you predict and prevent safety incidents, and identify the strengths and weaknesses of your safety culture. Leading indicators are more proactive and forward-looking, but they can also be more challenging to define, measure, and validate, as they may not have a direct or clear relationship with safety outcomes.

3 Balanced indicators

Balanced indicators are a combination of lagging and leading indicators, as they measure both the results and the drivers of safety performance. They can help you balance the short-term and long-term goals of your safety culture, and provide a more comprehensive and holistic picture of your safety situation. Balanced indicators can also help you align your safety objectives with your organizational strategy, and communicate your safety value proposition to your stakeholders. Some examples of balanced indicators are safety climate surveys, safety culture maturity models, and safety balanced scorecards.

4 How to choose and use safety performance indicators

Selecting and using safety performance indicators is not a one-size-fits-all approach, as different organizations may have different safety needs, priorities, and challenges. When selecting and applying safety performance indicators, it’s important to consider factors such as relevance to your specific safety risks, goals, and activities; reliability based on accurate and valid data sources and methods; simplicity and ease of understanding; actionability with clear and timely feedback; and alignment with organizational performance indicators that support your overall vision.

5 How to communicate safety performance indicators

Communicating safety performance indicators is an essential part of improving your safety culture, as it can help you raise awareness, engage employees, and demonstrate commitment. When doing so, you should tailor your message to suit your target audience, tell a story that explains the context and implications of the indicators, invite feedback from stakeholders, and follow up on your progress. Doing this will enable you to better understand the successes and challenges associated with your safety performance indicators, and to celebrate any successes or rewards.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?