The Safety Culture Ladder web tool contains 3 questionnaires:SAQ (SCL 2.0), SAQ Compact (SCL1.0)and SAQ Extended (SCL 2.0)
A self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ) provides insight into the safety culture of an organization. An SAQ translates the completed questionnaire into a total score in the maturity model of the Safety Culture Ladder (SCL).
An organization can use an SAQ:
- to carry out a baseline measurement, for example for a development or improvement plan;
- to do a general self-assessment;
- as part of an audit procedure.
SAQ (SCL 2.0)
With the introduction of SCL 2.0, a new questionnaire was also introduced in December 2023 to support this new version of the standard. The questionnaire contains 20 questions. Each subtheme has its own question with a variant for management and a variant for executive staff, the latter of which is written at B1 language level as much as possible. Unlike the SAQ Compact, the SAQ SCL 2.0 does have a question for each subtheme for both target groups. Are you not yet certified and are you going to start with the SCL? Then always use the SAQ SCL 2.0 to work according to the current standard.
SAQ Compact (SCL 1.0)
SAQ Compact is a self-evaluation instrument that provides insight into the safety culture of an organization. It is a kind of baseline measurement, intended for you to work on yourself. It is a guideline for further development of the safety culture in your organization.
SAQ Compact consists of 18 themes that correspond to the business characteristics from the SCL. Descriptions have been formulated for each theme that match the steps of the SCL. SAQ Compact contains 12 questions for executive employees and 28 questions for management, all of which must be answered. Respondents must indicate to what extent they agree with the description.
SAQ Extended (SCL 1.0)
With SAQ Extended you can conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the safety culture in your organization. By answering the questions you can see which step of the ladder you end up on. Before completing the questionnaire, please indicate at which level you would like to be certified. The respondents are then only given the questions on that step (and the lower steps) to answer. SAQ Extended contains 233 questions.
The SAQ Compact and the SAQ Extended remain available as long as people are still certified for the SCL 1.0.
Making a choice between the SAQ SCL 2.0, SAQ Compact and SAQ Extended
The following table shows the differences between SAQ Compact and SAQ Extended. This table will help you choose between the two questionnaires.
| Audit form | SAQ SCL 2.0
Contains 40 questions, of which 20 for operational staff and 20 for management/directors. |
SAQ Compact (SCL1.0)
Contains 12 questions for operational staff, 28 questions for management/board. |
SAQ Extended (SCL1.0) Extended version. Question selection based on the selected step. Contains 233 top-level questions. |
| Approved Self Assessment | You must use this version for the Approved Self Assessment. | You must use this version for the Approved Self Assessment. | This version may not be used for the Approved Self Assessment. |
| SCL Light | You must use this version with the SCL Light | You must use this version with the SCL Light. | You may use this version with the SCL Light. |
| SCL | You may use this version with the SCL. | You may use this version with the SCL. | You may use this version with the SCL. |
| SCL Original | You may use this version with the SCL. | You may use this version with the SCL Original. | You may use this version with the SCL Original. |
SAQ results
The results of the SAQ SCL 2.0 and SAQ Compact show a percentage (%) of the most frequently chosen answers. The SAQ Extended uses a points system to indicate a step achieved. The score is an indication of the step based on the self-evaluation. No rights can be derived. The actual step is determined by a certification body (CI). The results are mainly intended to discover how safe and healthy the organization is and which themes can still be worked on within the organization to improve safety.< /p>