This last February 1 (Remembrance Day) is not the only time we can reflect upon any of the three NASA human spaceflight mishaps over the last four decades. Looking at these tragic events, Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia, through the lens of NASA Safety Culture can inspire us to further examine current programs and projects on any day necessary.
Do we continue to enhance our reporting culture while remaining flexible enough to meet new demands? Are we just in rewarding this reporting or do we "shoot the messenger?" Do we learn enough from our close calls to prevent deadly mishaps from occurring? And finally, are we constantly engaged in positively affecting the agency’s approach to safety?
Read, then try looking around you at your organization with an eye toward Reporting Culture, Flexible Culture, Just Culture, Learning Culture and Engaged Culture. What do you see? What’s being done about it?