ABSTRACT
Lean safety is an approach that utilizes both the lean philosophy and the lean tools to intentionally
create a continuous improvement safety culture that engages the workforce and moves lean
forward.
The management philosophy entitled lean has been in practice for more than 20 years and yet
many or most companies that have attempted to make it a core principle in their business
operations have struggled or failed in their attempts. Before we explore why that is the case, we
must first understand the foundation, or building blocks, of lean. By knowing the definition and
intent of lean we will be able to quickly see which parts have been neglected, misunderstood, or
ignored by business leaders.
