Safety performance measurement Shortcomings

Understanding the validity and shortcomings of our performance measures is an indication of the maturity of the practice of safety as a profession. 

If we safety professionals state that our practice is based on sound science, engineering, and management principles, it logically follows that we should be able to provide measures of performance that reflect with some degree of accuracy the outcomes of the hazards management initiatives we propose. Understanding the validity and shortcomings of our performance measures is an indication of the maturity of the practice of safety as a profession. 

Such analyses produce leading indicators that serve as predictors of the future if risk reduction actions are not taken. No matter what criticisms are offered about the shortcomings of historical performance measures, it would be folly for safety professionals to treat them as other than valuable resources. 

To monitor safety performance in an effective and objective way, wherever possible and meaningful, the relevant measurable safety performance indicators should be used. These indicators should enable senior corporate managers to discern and react to shortcomings and early deterioration in the performance of safety management within the train of other business performance indicators. More information on the use of safety performance indicators, in particular to identify early signs of degradation in safety performance, can be found in Ref. [5],... 

---