The route to Step 3 for small businesses
From 1 July, step 3 of Safety Culture Ladder (SCL) will be a hard requirement for many tenders in construction and engineering. You keep this process manageable by taking control and not making it bigger than necessary.
We often hear that small organisations look up to the administration. A big misconception is that you are required to have the self-assessment for SCL Light listed on a public register. You don't have to. You go through the steps internally and use the results for your own improvement. This saves you time and unnecessary costs.
Are you a small organisation with up to 50 employees? Then you can start this practical approach today via a SCL Light for small organisations:
- Arrange for an internal auditor to look after the SCL process internally: Make sure an employee is trained according to NEN requirements, or hire an external consultant.
- Conduct baseline measurement using the SAQ. This is the questionnaire in the web tool. The results immediately show where safety awareness is already good and the areas of concern (anything answered indicatively below the desired ambition level).
- In the same web tool, using the Action plan a (GAP) analysis and you name actions to get to the desired level. You also create a self-declaration in which you name behavioural goals and ambitions. You save this self-declaration for your own use.
- Choose a Certifying Body (CI): Contact a CI to schedule the audit as auditors' schedules fill up quickly.
- Get the audit done: The auditor conducts the 40% audit for your step indication. The CB ensures that the statement obtained is included in the official SCL register.