Safety culture and safety climate: How far have we come and where could we be heading?

Abstract

After little more than a quarter-century, the burgeoning literature on safety culture/climate has frequently been reviewed. This article maintains that continuing terminological confusion is no barrier to making theoretical and methodological progress. It finds that sophisticated modelling techniques can be combined with greater methodological rigour to explore linkages between safety culture/climate and other organisational phenomena at individual, group, organisational and cultural levels. From a generic model of relationships between safety culture, safety climate and related variables, this review of recent literature explores the current status of these concepts and seeks to identify where further development is required.