Safety Culture

Every transit system has a Safety Culture. And every transit system’s Safety Culture can be improved. Bob Bourne has developed a unique holistic approach to improving the existing Safety Culture present in each transit system to reduce claims and improve system performance. This approach focuses in initiating change through careful analysis, collaborative strategy development, and proven methods of implementation.

While there are many safety programs that are effective, there still continues to be many transit systems that are operating under their potential to be safe at all times. Most Safety Cultures change gradually over time; symptoms of change can include a slight increase in accidents, a change in attitude towards accidents, changes in safety training programs, etc. But often, management cannot pinpoint the root causes of these changes. An outside observer can help define these causes and determine where an organization is on the safety continuum.

Bob has developed a proven program that is based on his more than 35 years of experience in safe bus operations – from small bus operations in Wilmette, IL, to large bus operations at NORTRAN in Des Plaines, IL, to small urban/university operations at CyRide in Ames, IA. He has now made this program available to small urban and rural transit systems.

Improving a Safety Culture is a slow, deliberate, and thoughtful process that will take many months and perhaps a few years. It utilizes the positive aspects of the current Safety Culture within your organization and enhances the strengths that every transit system has. It can win the hearts and minds of almost all employees and improve their performance. It is not easy and this program is not a quick fix. It is holistic and requires a focused commitment from management—and that commitment will create an environment where the drivers and supervisors will respond positively, resulting in an improved Safety Culture.

While most bus systems have a variety of safety programs, few have put them all together in a holistic approach that maximizes the Safety Culture within any organization. A positive and productive Safety Culture consists of the following elements:

1) Engineering

2) Data Collection and Analysis

3) Communication, Internal and External

4) Motivation, Internal and External

5) Training, Competent and Confident

>> Click here for more detailed information about these key elements and how Bob’s proven process can help you can enhance your Safety Culture.