Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) Practice Exam

Measures of safety incidents and audits fall under which category of safety performance indicators?

1. Leading indicators

2. Current indicators

3. Lagging indicators

4. Next-step indicators

The correct answer is: Current indicators

The correct classification of measures of safety incidents and audits falls under leading indicators. Leading indicators are proactive measures that help predict and prevent future safety incidents by focusing on the activities that can improve overall safety performance. These indicators are often process-oriented and emphasize safety management systems, training procedures, safety audits, and preventive measures that organizations implement to reduce the likelihood of accidents. In contrast, lagging indicators reflect historical data on safety incidents, such as the number of accidents or injuries that have already occurred. These indicators measure outcomes rather than activities, making them reactive in nature. While current indicators might suggest an ongoing assessment of present safety performance, they do not specifically categorize measures of incidents and audits effectively. Next-step indicators, while not a standard term in safety performance measurement, could imply future planning or actions, which again differs significantly from the concept of measuring past incidents or audits. Understanding this distinction helps in effectively managing safety performance, as leading indicators are instrumental in fostering a proactive safety culture and driving continuous improvement in safety practices.