Safety Culture Assessment

Measure your safety culture maturity and readiness for change

Safety Culture Assessment Outcomes

About the Safety Culture Assessment

Our Safety Culture Assessment Tool was first developed in 2003 and has been used successfully by organisations in Australia and abroad in a variety of industries, providing an extensive database which provides benchmarks against which any organisation can measure their performance.

The assessment methods measuring safety culture evaluates both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative component is an online or hardcopy survey that discovers what your people are thinking. The qualitative component is a series of interviews and focus groups which explore why people have these perceptions. It also includes onsite observations such as observing meetings, people interactions, work environments, physical processes and a desktop review of key documents. Integrating these processes provides us with a comprehensive picture of an organisation’s safety culture.

Additionally, our Psychosocial Risk Assessment will further identify systematic psychosocial risks in the workplace that may be compromising both mental and physical safety, as well as performance.

What's Covered in the Safety Culture Assessment Tool

The safety culture assessment program evaluates six elements of safety culture:

Safety Culture Assessment Format

Safety Culture Measurement Tool - Background

The key to any successful change program is starting with a thorough understanding of the current state and readiness for change.

Safety culture is no different – it is critical to know where you are now to help you develop a roadmap to get you to where you want to be.

It is equally as important to understand your organisation’s readiness and appetite for change, which will help you decide better where to focus energy and resources to achieve the desired change.

Our safety culture measurement tool gives you the data needed to make important decisions. To ensure that data is reliable and meaningful, our Safety Culture Diagnosis uses integrated data methods and evaluates safety culture at several levels within your organisation. Results are benchmarked against other industries and organisations for context and comparison. In our experience, companies that believe they have a deep understanding of their culture and current challenges are often surprised by the insights revealed by our experts after conducting a Safety Culture Diagnosis. From here, your organisation can design and develop a Health and Safety Strategy Plan to improve and transform workplace safety culture into a positive and sustainable one. 

After assessment, safety training is paramount to understand and improve safety culture and performance. Our Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) Safety Training program helps equip leaders and teams with practical skills to manage human error, improve workplace safety, and enhance overall organisational performance.

Why use Jonah Group for your Safety Culture Measurement Tool

Jonah Group’s experts know safety. Not just because they have studied it – but because they have lived it.

 

In 1999, founders Nada and Robert Wentzel were involved in a horrific accident that left them burned and scarred. The accident led to a life-long inquiry to discover why smart people are capable of such mistakes.

 

Today, they share that knowledge with leaders from the boardroom to the front line, driving real change in people’s attitudes, behaviour and mindset – and ensuring safety and well-being. In a world where more than 2 million die every year from work-related accidents and disease, safety is Jonah Group’s mission.

 

Whether psychological or physical health and safety mental health or physical safety, Jonah Group’s experts help people understand, teach people the science of decision-making, risk and human error risk and in doing so, build safety leadership capability to help leaders create and help leaders build sustainable cultures of safety.

Jonah Group. Saving Lives. Protecting business.

Testimonials

Get in touch

Safety Culture Assessment - FAQs

A safety culture assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of an organisation’s safety culture, focusing on various aspects such as leadership, policy process, management systems, workplace performance, relationships, and personal ownership. The purpose of this assessment is to identify strengths and weaknesses, develop targeted safety strategies, and understand employees’ safety perception.

The safety culture assessment tool combines quantitative and qualitative methods, including staff safety perception surveys, one-on-one interviews, and focus groups. This approach provides a detailed understanding of an organisation’s safety climate culture, allowing for targeted improvements and measuring progress over time.

A safety culture assessment and safety culture maturity score is essential for organisations to accurately assess their current safety culture and track improvements. By identifying areas of strength and weakness, organisations can develop targeted strategies to enhance safety, reduce risks, and ensure employee well-being.

The safety culture risk assessment helps organisations understand their employees’ perceptions of safety, the effectiveness of their safety systems, and the role of leadership in promoting a strong safety culture. This knowledge enables organisations to focus on areas requiring improvement, reducing the risk of accidents and promoting a safer work environment.

Yes, the safety culture assessment tool can be adapted to suit the specific requirements of your organisation. By tailoring the assessment to your unique context, the tool can more effectively recollect accurate safety culture indicators and identify areas for improvement, helping your company develop targeted safety strategies.

The frequency of conducting a safety culture assessments depends on the organisation’s size, industry, and specific needs. Regular safety maturity assessments, typically every 1-2 years, are recommended to track progress and ensure continuous improvement in your organisation’s safety culture.

Understanding the current state of your organisation’s safety culture is the first step to meaningful improvement. Below are key benefits of conducting a safety culture assessment:

Safety Culture Assessment Establishes a Clear Baseline

A well-structured safety culture assessment offers a detailed view of your organisation’s current attitudes, behaviours, and systems related to safety. This baseline is essential for measuring safety culture effectively and sets a reference point for future comparison. Whether you’re at the start of a transformation or refining existing processes, a clear baseline ensures that any progress is both measurable and meaningful.

Safety Culture Assessment Tool Identifies Strengths and Gaps

Using a combination of safety culture surveys, interviews, and onsite observations, the assessment highlights what’s working well and where there are gaps. These insights help uncover systemic issues and cultural blind spots that might otherwise go unnoticed. Assessing safety culture in this way ensures your organisation can address both surface-level concerns and deeper-rooted challenges that affect performance and safety outcomes.

Safety Culture Assessment Surveys Reveals True Employee Perceptions

Safety culture assessments create a safe space for employees to express how they truly perceive leadership, systems, and accountability. These qualitative insights, gathered through structured interviews and focus groups, provide valuable context to the data captured through safety culture surveys. Understanding these lived experiences allows leaders to respond with empathy and relevance, building trust and credibility in the process.

Safety Culture Assessment Tool Supports Evidence-Based Decision Making

By integrating both qualitative and quantitative data, the safety culture assessment tool enables leaders to make strategic, evidence-based decisions. Rather than relying on assumptions or informal feedback, organisations gain robust insights that can guide targeted investments in systems, training, and leadership. This approach ensures that decisions are aligned with actual risk exposure and workforce needs.

Safety Culture Measurement Informs Tailored Safety Strategies

The findings from safety culture assessments directly inform the design of tailored safety improvement plans. These strategies reflect your organisation’s current state, its safety maturity assessment results, and its capacity for change. With this clarity, you can move beyond generic solutions and implement initiatives that are aligned with both your operational context and long-term safety goals.

Safety Culture Measurement Tool for Benchmarking Against Industry Standards

Your results are mapped against national and international benchmarks, offering perspective on how your organisation compares to others in similar industries. This benchmarking capability, a key feature of our safety culture measurement tool, highlights both competitive strengths and improvement opportunities. Measuring safety culture in this way helps prioritise actions and align your efforts with industry best practice.