The Caterpillar Safety Perception Survey (SPS) is a powerful safety culture assessment tool with a rich history of research and development, which started in the 1970s with safety pioneer Dr. Dan Petersen.

Every employee in the organization is given a voice in the journey by providing yes/no responses to 73 survey questions. The safety perception survey can be administered through a pencil-to-scan form or an online survey method.

Each survey question links to one of the 20 safety culture indicators, such as Safety Training, Management Credibility, Communication and Recognition for Performance. These indicators are proven to influence an organization’s overall safety performance.

Safety Perception Survey results are segmented into three specific groups – employees, supervisors and managers – in order to reveal perception gaps. The areas of greatest perception disparity typically become the first focal points in a continuous improvement strategy.

Data is benchmarked against world-class safety organizations and analyzed by our experienced consultants. A written analysis report is created and recommended next steps are delivered to executive leaders. This process is the catalyst for safety culture improvement.

On-site interviews are available to gather qualitative data on the safety culture at the individual level. Whether used as a tool to complement the safety culture survey or as a standalone process, the interview and follow-up analysis identify focal points for change.

An on-site cultural assessment can also be included with the Safety Perception Survey. This can include interviews (as outlined above), as well as field observations to identify the degree to which safety has been integrated into the overall business.