Safety culture in bus transport compared to rail and air transport

The concept of "safety culture" arose in the late 1980s as a consequence of the Chernobylaccident in 1986, and the lack of an adequate safety culture was identified as a major cause ofthe accidents. An adequate or good safety culture within an organization is characterized by astrong focus and high value on safety; it is part of an organization's "culture". Studies of safety culture have been conducted in a number of organizations and companies faced with potential dangers, although to a limited degree within the transport sector. This study presents the results of surveys conducted in various transport companies in which drivers and pilots were questioned on safety-related issues. The safety culture of different transport modes is compared by using the safety culture index constructed by the Global Aviation Network. Aviation shows to exhibit the best safety culture, followed by rail transport, while bus companies have the poorest safety culture. The results also demonstrate a strong link between safety culture and the work environment and between safety culture and job-related sickness absence. The employees' perception of their company's safety culture influences their own safety behaviour, both within and outside the work environment. The study also shows a close relationship between an adherence to rules and instructions at work and self-reported transport accidents and incidents.