Blame-free atmosphere

Partial resnlts in the Japanese snrvey are shown in Table 4.2 in terms of the percentage of positive respondents for each factor of safety culture as well as significance levels across fom professional groups - although every factor was significantly different. As an overall trend, almost all Japanese healthcare professionals have a strong awareness of communication as well as strong respect for seniority and senior members. There is a small power distance as well as a blame-free atmosphere within a hospital. 

From these resrrlts, it can be seen that a positive safety culture contributes to favorrrable staff attitudes related to patierrt safety. In particular, small power distance arrd blame-free atmosphere appeared as the most effective elements of safety crrlture for positive staff attitrrdes and behaviours to error reporting and interaction with the patierrt after the adverse event. 

Reports of equipment failures, design faults or procedures which might cause a hazard, must be encouraged without threat of disciplinary action wherever possible. An effective safety culture requires an atmosphere in which individuals are not unduly punished or blamed for their mistakes - a blame-free environment. This is an ideal which is difficult to achieve in practice when things really do go wrong, people s reaction is often to protect themselves by pointing the finger of blame at others. 

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