Safety in Culture, Attitude, and Behaviour
Safety is everywhere and applies to every employee in every sector. The Safety Culture Ladder (SCL) measures safety awareness within companies. The higher your company ranks on the ladder (from step 1 to 5), the better its safety awareness is developed. Safety goes beyond just rules; it must be embedded in the culture, attitude, and behaviour. The SCL encourages companies and suppliers to work consciously in a safe and healthy manner.
An SCL certificate, statement with step indication or declaration, demonstrates that your organization takes safety seriously. This enhances trust among customers and motivates employees to work more safely and consciously, reducing safety incidents and preventing absenteeism. After all, prevention is better than to cure.
What Does Moving Up the Ladder Mean in Practice?
An Example:
- Step 2 (Reactive): Problems are only solved after they occur, but no further action is taken.
"I was given an unstable ladder and used it. As a result, I fell and broke my ankle." - Step 3 (Calculative): Incidents are regularly discussed, and measures are taken, but little is learned from them.
"I had an unstable ladder, and it was replaced." - Step 4 (Proactive): Good experiences and lessons from past situations are shared. Employees are involved and suggest improvements themselves.
"For the unstable ladder we are using now, I found a better ladder that lasts much longer and remains stable due to its construction. Let’s stop using the current one and replace it."
What Makes the SCL Unique?
The higher your company is on the ladder, the more:
- Employees are proactive; reactive work takes twice as much time and money.
- Conditions are linked to behaviour, and employees take ownership in their health and safety.
- Employees feel connected to the company and want to stay.
Assessment Process
An assessment is conducted by a team consisting of a lead auditor and an auditor. Exceptions include the second and third year of the SCL Light assessment and the ASA assessment, which are conducted by a single auditor.
The assessment process includes (group) interviews with employees at locations or projects. The key focus is that safety goes beyond rules and requirements. The emphasis is on shaping (safety) culture (attitude and behavior) together on a daily basis.
Results are reported using a traffic light overview (SCL Original and SCL), highlighting strengths and areas for improvement per theme. This helps your organization to work on targeted improvements.
How Does the Safety Culture Ladder Work?
The Safety Culture Ladder consists of four different products:
- SCL Original (Applicable up to Step 5): A full (100%) audit is conducted every year. You have a free choice regarding self-assessment. The issued certificate is valid for three years.
- SCL (Applicable up to Step 4): This SCL product also results in a three-year certificate, but the two interim audits cover 40% of the audit time compared to the initial audit. You have a free choice regarding self-assessment.
- SCL Light (Applicable up to Step 3): This SCL product provides a three-year valid ‘Statement’ with a step indication. A 40% audit assesses a self-filled questionnaire (SAQ, via the mandatory NEN web tool https://www.webtoolscl.nl ), a GAP analysis, and an action plan indicating how you how you will grow to your desired step. The two interim audits monitor the progress of this action plan.
- Approved Self Assessment (ASA): This SCL product is also based on a questionnaire (SAQ via the mandatory NEN web tool https://www.webtoolscl.nl ), a GAP analysis, and an action plan. We assess these but do not determine the step level. In the following two years, ‘desk’ checks (on-site or via Teams) take place to monitor action plan progress. You do not receive a certificate or statement, but a declaration.
| The Four Safety Culture Ladder Products at a Glance: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SCL verification | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
| SCL Original (Certificate) | 100% audit | 100% audit | 100% audit |
| SCL (certificate) | 100% audit | 40% follow-up audit | 40% follow-up audit |
| SCL light ( Statement with steps indication) | 40% follow-up audit | Check on action plan | Check on action plan |
| Approved Self Assessment | Self-assessment | Check on action plan | Check on action plan |
Which Safety Culture Ladder Product is Right for You?
The choice is yours unless the client specifies a product and step level (e.g., via ViA).
If there is no obligation, choose the product that best suits your organization and grow from there.
Key Benefits at a Glance:
- Continuous focus on a safe and healthy workplace.
- Reduction of workplace accidents and absenteeism.
- Employees feel more connected to the company.
- Strengthening of commercial opportunities (in tenders and new business).
- Increased trust from clients.
- Encouraging open communication within the organization and with (chain) partners.
TÜV Rheinland Netherlands is your reliable partner for SCL assessments, thanks to years of expertise in occupational health and safety.
Please note!
As of 1 June 2025, the range of SCL products will change and NEN will introduce renewed and more accessible products that support organizations in an even more effective way in improving their safety and health culture.
With this renewal, we make the Safety Culture Ladder more applicable for small organizations.
Source: Renewed products as of 1 June 2025 - Safety Culture Ladder
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