Title: Critical review of safety performance metrics

Authors: Nektarios Karanikas

Addresses: Faculty of Technology/Aviation Academy, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Weesperzijde 190, 1097 DZ Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract: Various tools for safety performance measurement have been introduced in order to fulfil the need for safety monitoring in organisations, which is tightly related to their overall performance and achievement of their business goals. Such tools include accident rates, benchmarking, safety culture and climate assessments, cost-effectiveness studies, etc. The current work reviews the most representative methods for safety performance evaluation that have been suggested and applied by a variety of organisations, safety authorities and agencies. This paper discusses several viewpoints of the applicability, feasibility and appropriateness of such tools, based on the viewpoints of managers and safety experts involved in a relevant research that was conducted in a large aviation organisation. The extensive literature cited, the discussion topics, along with the conclusions and recommendations derived, might be considered by any organisation that seeks a realistic safety performance assessment and establishment of effective measurement tools.

Keywords: safety performance; safety metrics; safety assessment; safety audits; performance indicators; safety culture; safety climate; performance measurement; safety monitoring; firm performance; organisational performance; performance evaluation; accident rates; benchmarking; cost effectiveness; aviation industry; aviation safety.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBPM.2016.077244

International Journal of Business Performance Management, 2016 Vol.17 No.3, pp.266 - 285

Received: 22 Mar 2014
Accepted: 30 May 2015
Published online: 25 Jun 2016 *

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