Culture of Safety and Responsibility

President’s Letter of Commitment

 

 

What is Boston University’s Culture of Safety and Responsibility?

The Boston University safety model is a core value that is integrated into the fabric of the institution. This culture of safety and responsibility is guided by the following principles:

Leadership and Oversight

• Leadership recognition and support of a culture of safety at every level within the institution.
• Demonstrated commitment and reinforcement on a regular basis though the consideration of safety issues at meetings, in the defining of jobs and in the evaluation of faculty, staff and programs across the institution.

Organizational Practices

• Organizational commitment at every level to recognizing that research and other activities present a potential risk, and to ensuring that these operations are conducted safely and in a responsible manner.
• Incorporating safety as an integral aspect of the institution’s operations (e.g., experimental design, facility construction, equipment specifications).
• Creating an environment of collaboration among all stakeholders (i.e., researchers, Department Safety Advisors [DSAs], students, staff, facilities management staff, public safety staff) to identify safety issues and to find solutions.
• Organizational learning is not only expected, but is also embraced.

Institutional Structure

• Creating an environment in which each individual understands their role in the research enterprise and conducts their activities in a responsible manner.
• Creating an environment where individuals are empowered to recognize and to report errors or near misses without fear of reprimand or punishment.
• Continuous review and examination of the infrastructure that provides support for safety practices and procedures.

Shared Core Values and Beliefs

• Empowering all members of the research community to accept their critical role in protecting their own safety as well as that of others.
• Emphasizing personal responsibility to safety and ethical conduct of research.

Management Systems

• Investigating incidents or near misses, identifying “lessons learned,” and modifying programs, as appropriate, to incorporate any enhancements identified during the investigation.
• Committing resources to address safety concerns.