A Review concerning safety culture and inherent communication dimensions in air navigation services

This paper resumes a literature review about safety culture as a sub dimension of organizational culture whilst exploring the straight link with organizational internal communication. The safety culture concept was introduced in final 80´s when the results of the investigation on the Chernobyl accident became a milestone due to the initial consideration of organizational factors in the accident causality chain. Since then, safety culture raised as an important dimension of organizational culture to be developed in a positive way in High Reliability Organizations (HRO) such as Air Navigation Services Providers (ANSP). The common key element linking all components of a positive safety culture is indeed the organizational internal communication which plays an essential role fostering relationships either between employees or establishing a link with management. It grants general information about safety politics, programs and essential guidelines to be implemented. It’s scope of influence reach safety reporting, human factors, training and shiftwork routines. Moreover, all safety related information e.g. feedback from safety analysis, need appropriate communication links supported by an effective safety management system.