The Safety Culture Ladder Webtool contains two questionnaires: SAQ Compact and SAQ Extended.
An SAQ provides insight into an organisation's safety culture. An SAQ translates the completed questionnaire into a total score in the maturity model of the Safety Culture Ladder (SCL).
Companies and organisations can use an SAQ:
- to perform a baseline measurement, for example as part of a development or improvement plan;
- to perform a general self-assessment;
- as part of an audit procedure.
SAQ Compact
SAQ Compact is a self-assessment tool that provides insight into an organisation's safety culture. It is a kind of baseline measurement, intended to be used primarily by the organisation itself. It serves as a guideline for further development of the safety culture in your organisation.
SAQ Compact consists of 18 themes that correspond to the business characteristics of the SCL. Descriptions have been formulated for each theme that match the steps of the SCL. The questions of the SAQ Compact are divided into type of employee: operational personnel (12 questions) or management/management (28 questions). The respondents should indicate in which description they most recognize themselves or the company. All questions are mandatory.
SAQ Extended
SAQ Extended allows you to perform an extensive assessment of the safety culture in your organisation. By answering the questions, you can see which step of the ladder you are on. Before filling in the questionnaire, you have to indicate the step for which you want to be certified. Respondents will then only be given the questions for that step (and the lower steps). SAQ Extended has 233 questions in total.
Deciding between SAQ Compact and SAQ Extended
The following table shows the differences between SAQ Compact and SAQ Extended. You can use this table to help you choose between the two questionnaires.
| Audit format | SAQ Compact Contains 12 questions for operational staff, 28 questions for management/direction. |
SAQ Extended Comprehensive version. Selection of questions based on the selected step. Contains 233 questions on the highest step. |
| Approved Self Assessment | You must use this version with the Approved Self-Assessment. | You may not use this version with the Approved Self-Assessment. |
| SCL Light | You are allowed to use this version with the SCL Light. | You are allowed to use this version with the SCL Light. |
| SCL | You are allowed to use this version with the SCL. | You are allowed to use this version with the SCL. . |
| SCL Original | You are allowed to use this version with the SCL Original. | You are allowed to use this version with the SCL Original. |
SAQ results
Both SAQs translate the completed questionnaire into a total score in the maturity model of the Safety Culture Ladder. The score is an indication of the step based on the self-evaluation. No rights may be derived from this. The actual step is determined by a certifying body (CB). The results are mainly intended to discover how safe and healthy the organisation is and on which themes the organisation needs to concentrate more to improve safety.