ABSTRACT
Mindsets that develop a holistic approach to safety are essential if training people how to behave safely is to become merely the first part of a thorough and effective behavioural safety approach. One of the most important contributors to such mindsets is an appreciation of the simple principle that compliance is often discretionary. The concept of 'operational dexterity' is known in a variety of guises, including warfare, but basically means that a team or individual has enough knowledge or experience to adapt successfully in a dynamic environment when things don't go as expected. An example of a virtuous circle moving an individual to developing a genuine personal safety ethic (PSE) would be via self-awareness and empathy. Organizations build a strong safety culture person-by-person, day-by-day and behaviour-by-behaviour. The key to continuous improvement isn't running an excellent safety course; it's the follow-up and embedding of the key behaviours requested on that course.
