Understanding safety maturity and why it matters for every safety professional
Abby Ferri 
Date published: Mar 26, 25
In our quickly innovating and data-driven world, safety should be more than compliance; it’s an integral part of a company’s culture and operational success. At the heart of this concept is the idea of "safety maturity." This lens of safety performance and culture may be new to safety professionals, but understanding where an organization stands on the safety maturity spectrum can transform not only safety outcomes but also operational efficiency, employee wellbeing and the safety professional’s focus.
What's safety maturity?
Safety maturity refers to the level of advancement of an organization’s safety systems, and practices within the overall organizational culture. It's typically visualized as progression across several stages, each reflecting an organization’s approach to safety—from reactive to proactive and finally to an integrated, fully embedded culture of safety. Several safety maturity models exist including the Bradley Curve and the Hudson Safety Maturity Model. In this blog, we're taking a general approach most closely aligned with the Bradley Curve.
The typical stages of safety maturity Include:
- Reactive – Addressing safety issues as they arise, often only after an incident occurs. Minimal supervisor participation in safety activities, safety is viewed as the job of the safety professional only.
- Dependent – Meeting basic regulatory requirements without proactively seeking improvements. There may be more supervisor participation than the Reactive stage, but most safety tasks are considered the responsibility of the safety professional.
- Independent – Recognizing that safety is more than compliance and actively looking to prevent incidents. Employees are involved in daily safety processes, and supervisors have some direct safety responsibilities.
- Interdependent – Safety is embedded in every aspect of the organization, with safety practices that evolve based on feedback, data and continuous improvement. The safety professional is viewed as an internal subject-matter expert, and employees at all levels have direct safety responsibilities. This stage may also be called resilient or generative.
By assessing where an organization falls within these stages, safety professionals can guide their companies toward improving their safety processes for a safer, more productive workplace that prioritizes not just rules and regulations but a genuine culture of safety.
Why should safety professionals care about safety maturity?
1. Improving safety outcomes
When organizations assess and understand their safety maturity level, they gain insight into their gaps and opportunities for improvement. For example, a company operating reactively may experience more incidents because issues are only addressed after they occur. By progressing to a proactive approach, the organization can use predictive measures to identify potential hazards before they become incidents, improving overall safety outcomes.
2. Aligning safety with organizational goals
Organizations often aim for streamlined processes and efficiency across all functions, and safety is no exception. A mature safety culture aligns with these goals by integrating safety practices into every area of operations, reducing disruptions due to incidents and injuries and enhancing overall productivity. Safety professionals who understand and advocate for safety maturity can help position safety as a core element of operational success.
3. Employee engagement and trust
A mature safety culture shows employees that their wellbeing is valued and prioritized. When workers see that safety isn’t just a box to check but a central part of the workplace, they’re more likely to engage in and contribute to safety efforts. Safety professionals who actively assess and work to improve their organization's safety maturity are therefore helping to foster a culture of trust, where employees feel confident that their voices are heard, and safety engagement and participation is standard.
4. Data-driven insights for continuous improvement
In a mature safety culture, safety professionals use data to guide decision-making, predict potential risks and improve processes. By understanding their organization’s maturity level, safety professionals can better leverage data to prevent incidents and create actionable insights. This approach not only keeps employees safe but also improves overall organizational resilience.
5. Keeping up with industry standards
As organizations across industries increasingly adopt sophisticated safety practices, expectations around safety maturity are evolving. Companies with a low maturity level may find themselves falling behind peers who prioritize proactive and resilient safety processes. Safety professionals who assess their organization’s safety maturity help ensure that their company remains competitive and compliant with the latest industry standards.
How to begin assessing safety maturity
Assessing safety maturity doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. Safety professionals can begin by gathering qualitative and quantitative data on incidents, near-misses, employee feedback and inspection results. Through structured assessments, surveys, interviews with employees and input across various levels, they can gain a clearer picture of how safety is viewed and practiced within the organization.
Ultimately, understanding safety maturity is a vital step in developing an organizational culture where safety is everyone's responsibility. By embracing the journey toward maturity, safety professionals can lead the way to a safer, more engaged workplace where safety is integrated into every process and every conversation.
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