Originally posted on Caterpillar Safety Service’s Safety Culture WORLD blog http://safetycultureworld.blogspot.com/and reposted here with Caterpillar’s permission.

What does it take for a computer to help us do our jobs better and enjoy our lives more? 

A simplified answer that doesn’t go into nano-detail is that a computer requires both hardware and software to be functional. Expanding this concept a little could lead to a discussion about the hardware items in life that enable us to move forward (automobiles, homes, computers, etc.) and the software concepts (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self control, etc.) which make life more enjoyable.

However, this is a safety article and there is an application of hardware and software that makes sense to me. Our hardware deals with the basics of regulations and best practices that are fundamental to reducing risks in the workplace. Without the basics in place, people will continue to get injured. With this in mind, software is needed to deliver a functional, viable safety culture. Safety software deals with real aspects of safety that engage people in living a zero-incident safety culture. How do we communicate, inspire, engage, live important accountabilities, measure performance and injury-reducing safety activities? 

The hardware pieces of an effective safety culture are fairly well-defined and have been for a number of years. The software aspects are becoming the differentiating characteristics between a calculator concept of safety and an effective, viable safety culture that delivers a relentless pursuit of zero incidents.

The Doc