tarting on the right foot helps ensure that a safety management system—and the people, policies, programs, and procedures it encompasses—functions effectively.
To understand this, it’s important to distinguish between values and priorities.
Values
Values are deeply held beliefs and principles that remain constant regardless of circumstances. They reflect a person’s ethics, morals, and standards of behavior. In a list of values, no single value is considered more important than another—all are equally significant.
Priorities
Priorities, on the other hand, indicate what a person or organization considers more important at a given time. Unlike values, priorities can change depending on circumstances. A prioritized list ranks items by importance, with the highest priority items listed first.
Values vs. Priorities
The key differences are:
- Values don’t change: For example, even if a project falls behind schedule, safety practices should never be ignored. Safety as a value remains constant.
- Priorities do change: If safety procedures are modified or bypassed to meet a schedule, safety is treated as a priority rather than a core value.
A common example is the familiar “Safety First” sign. While it conveys the message that safety is important, if safety isn’t truly a core value, the sign actually reflects a priority, not a principle. When safety is treated this way, it can negatively affect the organization’s safety culture and overall performance.