Recent incidents have raised concerns regarding the perception of educational institutions as safe environments. Significant occurrences include a fire at the People’s Friendship University of Russia in 2003, which resulted in 41 student fatalities, and a 2015 explosion at China University of Mining and Technology that claimed one life and caused several injuries. These events highlight the importance of implementing effective safety practices and fostering a culture of safety awareness among students.
Research on Safety Culture in Education
While research on safety culture has primarily taken place in high-risk industries, there is a growing body of studies exploring this concept within educational contexts in countries such as the United States, China, Vietnam, and Brazil. Despite this progress, thorough reviews of safety culture in the education sector remain limited. A recent systematic literature review (SLR) aimed to analyze trends and factors influencing safety culture in educational institutions from 2019 to 2023. Using the PRISMA method, the review identified 17 relevant articles from the Science Direct and SCOPUS databases and developed 15 subthemes through thematic analysis.
Key Findings on Safety Culture
The findings indicated that behavioral components—including safety training, awareness, knowledge, commitment, and communication—are essential to fostering a positive safety culture, comprising 87% of the study’s results. Public universities were the most frequently examined institutions, followed by elementary schools and private universities. Established models of safety culture, such as the Reason Safety Culture Model and Guldenmund’s Three-Layered Organizational Culture, were frequently referenced. These models emphasize the importance of psychological (attitudes toward safety), situational (environmental factors), and behavioral (safety practices) dimensions for establishing safer educational settings.
Importance of Safety Training
The review emphasized the critical role of safety training in cultivating a robust safety culture, particularly in laboratory environments where students handle hazardous materials. Incorporating safety education into curricula and utilizing innovative methods, such as safety videos and incentive programs, were found to improve student engagement and heighten safety awareness. Furthermore, students’ attitudes toward safety were shown to be influenced by their education levels, with higher education levels associated with more effective safety practices. Additionally, situational factors like the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and clear safety signage significantly contribute to reducing accidents.
Conclusion
Overall, the study indicates that educational institutions may benefit from adopting safety practices used in industrial sectors in order to enhance their safety culture, thereby creating a safer learning environment for all stakeholders.
Reference: Ismail, S. N., Ramli, A., Prasetya, T. A. E., & Rosanti, E. (2025). Contributing Factors of Safety Culture in the Education Sector: A Systematic Review. *Journal of Advanced Research in Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology*, *52*(2), 164-175.
