Just Culture: The Foundation of Staff Safety in the Perioperative Environment

Abstract

In today's perioperative setting, staff members are potentially exposed to a variety of safety and environmental concerns. As health care organizations implement measures to provide safe environments for perioperative team members, organizational leaders must pivot away from antiquated mindsets and responses and other hierarchical models of leadership. Foundational to creating and fostering safe environments is providing an atmosphere in which staff members, regardless of their role, are empowered to speak up for safety. This article defines a just culture; explores the critical elements of a just culture, including psychological safety, leader and staff member responsibilities, and staff member empowerment; and provides tools and resources that may be beneficial for leaders who are creating a just culture for staff safety in the perioperative setting.

Keywords: culture of safety; high-reliability organization (HRO); just culture; near miss; staff safety.