Safety today goes beyond just physical protection – it’s about creating psychological well-being and resilience. Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) in Finland has embraced a community-centred safety approach, putting the community’s needs at the core. By integrating both physical and psychological safety, HAMK aims to build a more secure and supportive environment. This approach offers valuable insights for any organisation aiming to strengthen its safety culture.
In this article, we will take a deeper look into HAMK’s safety approach. The article is divided into three parts to enhance legibility. In this Part 1, we explain the background and the thought process behind our particular approach. In Part 2, we dive into the fundamental elements of our safety framework, and in Part 3, we introduce our remapped safety organisation and boosters for the framework.
Legislative and Cultural Background
HAMK’s safety approach is shaped by Finnish culture, where safety is rooted in values such as trust, mutual respect, and individual autonomy. This mindset supports a community-centered approach, emphasizing collaboration and open communication. Safety is seen as a shared responsibility, blending legal standards with community values to build a lasting safety culture.
Finnish legislation, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act, requires universities of applied sciences to ensure both physical and psychological safety. This includes compliance with laws on building safety, data protection, and chemical safety, all contributing to a solid safety foundation. Additionally, universities must have contingency and continuity plans as part of Finland’s preparedness strategy.
At HAMK, we focus on human factors, connecting safety with occupational wellbeing, competence management, and onboarding schemes. This approach moves away from traditional ”top-down” methods, fostering a community-driven safety culture that empowers individuals to take ownership of their well-being and create a stronger sense of belonging.
Defining Safety
Safety, defined as a state of being free from harm, involves taking proactive measures to prioritize well-being, while security focuses on protecting against intentional threats. Although a risk-free environment is unattainable, safety and security are about managing and reducing risks.
In Finnish, the term ”turvallisuus” encompasses both safety and security, and our approach to turvallisuustyö (safety and security work) aims to define its true meaning. While safety and security often overlap, tension between the two can shape organizational policies. For example, overly strict access control may create a false sense of protection, while a safety-driven approach fosters genuine community-centered safety. By emphasizing safety culture, psychological safety, and occupational safety, HAMK builds resilience and prepares the community to handle uncertainty.
Focus on Safety and Resilience
HAMK has shifted its focus from a security-driven mindset to one that emphasizes safety culture and community well-being. While security measures like fire safety and access control are managed by infrastructural services, the safety work now complements, rather than dictates, our approach.
A key focus is on resilience, which is essential for managing disruptions and supporting everyday safety. Resilience, part of daily life, enhances our ability to adapt and recover from challenges. An example is First Aid Training, which not only prepares staff for emergencies but also boosts confidence and strengthens the community’s overall safety
Through this thought process, we concluded that it is sensible to define ”turvallisuustyö” as everyday safety and resilience. This definition emphasises the importance of integrating safety into daily routines and practices, ensuring that safety is not just a reactive measure but an initiative-taking part of everyday life. By including resilience, we highlight the ability to adapt and recover from various disruptions, making our approach more comprehensive. This combination of everyday safety and resilience creates a robust framework that supports the well-being of our community in all aspects of daily life.
Community -Centred Safety Thinking
Safety culture cannot simply be imposed from the top down; it needs to grow organically from within the community. A genuine sense of safety comes not just from external controls but also from personal agency, the ability of individuals to act, influence their environment, and take responsibility for collective well-being.
Current research (e.g. Edmondson 2018, Rikander 2023, Suojanen 2023) on well-being, safety, and resilience shows that when people feel they have a role in shaping their environment, their sense of security strengthens. Instead of viewing safety as a fixed set of rules, we emphasise engagement, competence, and ownership. This shifts safety from a compliance system to a dynamic, evolving practice rooted in daily interactions, shared values, and a culture of mutual responsibility.
A practical example is encouraging safety observations, to recognise and address small risks before they grow. When individuals can identify and report potential hazards or suggest improvements, they gain a stronger sense of control over their surroundings. Similarly, promoting awareness of situational risk management, like assessing the safest route in unfamiliar areas or knowing how to help someone in distress, builds both personal confidence and collective security.
Our approach focuses on creating a community-centred way of thinking about safety, where people are not just passive recipients of safety measures but active participants. Safety is a shared responsibility, and everyone has both the right and the duty to contribute to the community’s well-being. By participating actively, individuals strengthen institutional structures and build personal resilience, gaining the confidence to manage uncertainty.
The key principles of our safety approach include:
- Community and Inclusion: Well-being and togetherness are central to our everyday safety and resilience. We prioritise inclusive efforts to ensure all community members can contribute. Firsthand activities like safety walks and drills help build practical skills.
- Proactive Mindset: Identifying, preventing, and mitigating risks are essential. We focus on understanding our environment and preparing for disruptions and crises. Proactive safety goes beyond physical risks, emphasising psychological safety as well.
- A Strong Safety Culture: Everyday safety is part of our routines, with continuous learning and improvement at its core. Monitoring tools like incident reports, safety observations, and safety walks help us evaluate and enhance our practices.
- Training and Competence Development: We regularly strengthen the safety skills of staff and students through training and practice. This includes general and task-specific orientation, risk management, cybersecurity, first aid, fire safety, and evacuation procedures. Supervisors and campus safety groups receive role-specific training to ensure readiness.
- Building Resilience: Our focus is on the ability to recover from disruptions and crises. Resilience is supported by both protective and initiative-taking measures, emphasising professional skills, risk management, safety awareness, collaboration, and adaptability.
This concludes part 1 of 3. Please continue to part 2 here.
Sources and literature
Edmondson, A. C. (2018). The fearless organization. John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Gilbert, D., et al. (2015). The surprising power of neighborly advice. Harvard.
Hopkin, P. (2017). Fundamentals of risk management (4. painos). Kogan Page Ltd.
Kallinen, R. (2021). Turvallisuuden tunne Hämeen ammattikorkeakoulun korkeakouluyhteisössä. Laurea.
Laitinen, H., Vuorinen, M., & Simola, A. (2021). Työturvallisuuden ja -terveyden johtaminen. Tietosanoma.
Levä, K. (2003). Turvallisuusjohtamisjärjestelmien toimivuus – vahvuudet ja kehityshaasteet suuronnettomuusvaarallisissa laitoksissa. TUKES-julkaisu 1/2003.
Rikander, H. (2023). Yrityksen työsuojelujohtaminen. Edita Lakitieto.
Suojanen, I. (2022). Onnellinen turvallisuus – Turvallista arkea etsimässä. Gaudeamus.
Teperi, A-M. (2023). Ihminen turvallisuuden tekijänä. Gaudeamus.
About the Author
Reima Kallinen is the Safety Officer at Häme University of Applied Sciences. He is part of HAMK Human Resource Services Team and holds an MBA in Safety and Security Management.