CULTURE OF SAFETY ==RHETORIC OR REALITY?

Updated 11-17-10
Creating TriMet’s Culture of Safety
Leading the way to service excellence
Standing for Safety
TriMet will reach the highest level of service excellence in a work environment where safety is a fundamental value, not just a priority. (I don't remember anybody preaching priority and not value!)

A value doesn’t change and is non-negotiable.(Actually values are constantly changing over time, what was acceptable yesterday is not acceptable today)

It is the filter for every decision that is made and every action taken. It is expected that employees will view this as their primary responsibility as they go about their daily work. (It is expected as an employee that managers will be held to similar standards in their performance, safety is not a one way street just looking at employees)

Understanding TheTriMet Way
We must first know who we are by understanding TriMet’s mission, role and aspiration. With our mission to build and operate the total transit system, we fulfill our role of being essential to the livability of the community and move closer to making the Portland region the most livable in the country.(Lofty rhetoric, should we pledge allegiance to the Trimet insignia?)

The TriMet Way is how we do our business. It is our commitment to be responsive, act inclusively, solve problems creatively and do the right thing. This results in service that is safe, dependable, responsive, easy and inviting to our customers and to one another.(Let's see all management staff held to similiar standards of conduct)

Creating a Culture of Safety
The strategy
Cultural transformation requires a long term commitment and full engagement from the Leadership Team and senior staff. They are expected to remove barriers, provide support and invest resources in activities that achieve the desired culture. By internalizing this philosophy in our policies and practices we: Align activities with the highest standards of safety; Improve communication with our employees, our customers and the public; Use data to make wise decisions and investment of resources; Hire the best employees and train them for success; and Create a performance management system that holds employees accountable.(BINGO, but holds EMPLOYEES AND MANAGERS accountable)

The workplan
The workplan identifies tasks, deadlines and responsibilities associated with moving toward a safety culture safety. It also is a way to share progress with the TriMet Board and employees.
Delivering on Safety and Reaching Service Excellence
If every employee thinks safety first, commits to changing the culture and delivers on the workplan, we will have successfully created a culture of service excellence.

OK TRIMET EXECUTIVES...

You are on the spot, lets see you figure out how to pull this off without abrogating your own guilt for creating our current culture which apparently is ANYTHING BUT SAFE!
{FOR THE RECORD, I DO NOT AGREE THAT OUR CURRENT CULTURE IS UNSAFE.}