Can focus on safety culture become an excuse for not rethinking design of technology?

Abstract

Two generic organisational contexts associated with technological designs in relation to safety culture are discussed: (1) operating organisations using existing technologies, and (2) design organisations as producers of technologies. It is argued that the concept of safety culture, if misused, may lead to the adoption of non-effective change strategies in the operational context. On the other hand, it is also argued that design organisations should invest more attention to issues commonly subsumed under the concept of safety culture. In this case, however, the concept of safety culture has to be adapted to fit the demands facing design organisations. Issues of morality and their association with the safety culture concept will be discussed. It is suggested that a stronger focus on understanding innovation and safety together should nourish future research about culture’s influence on design and safety.