A questioning attitude: a mark of professionalism and the maturity of a company's safety culture

The questioning attitude means analyzing workplace situations before taking action or making a decision. It is a culture where doubt is allowed, where stopping for a minute is encouraged.

At the individual level, this often begins with looking again at one’s own practices and perceptions of risks and situations. But, beyond that, it also means taking care of your colleagues and developing genuine shared vigilance.

In her Thoughts on Safety Culture, Amel Sedaoui argues that the questioning attitude is a sign that the professionalism of employees is recognized: each member contributes to improving risk management. The maturity of a company’s safety culture is, thus, reflected in the priority given to safety on a daily basis

Amel also suggests some ways to improve the questioning attitude at both the organizational and the managerial level.