safetycentered

Safetycentered is an adjective describing an organizational, product, or process design philosophy that places safety as the primary criterion in decision-making. In a safetycentered approach, policies, procedures, and performance metrics are chosen to maximize protection from harm, rather than prioritizing speed, cost, or convenience alone. It encompasses the integration of safety into governance, risk assessment, and everyday operations across the lifecycle of a system or service.

Core elements include visible leadership commitment to safety, a formal safety governance structure, hazard identification and risk assessment using methods such as HAZOP, FMEA, or root cause analysis, and robust reporting systems for near misses and incidents. It also relies on safety training, competence management, standard operating procedures, human factors considerations, and verification and validation activities. A safetycentered posture often aligns with a safety management system and standards such as ISO 45001, and emphasizes a just culture that encourages reporting and learning from errors rather than punishment.

Applications include manufacturing, construction, healthcare, aviation, transportation, and software development, where safety considerations influence design choices, change management, and incident investigations. Benefits include reduction of injuries and accidents, improved reliability and public trust, and long-term cost savings. Challenges include potential conflicts with productivity pressures, the risk of checkbox compliance, and the need for sustained resources and engagement across leadership and staff.

Related concepts include safety culture, safety by design, human factors, risk management, and safety management systems.