Unsafe water, as many recent outbreaks have shown, has the potential to cause
widespread illness and even death. Water Safety Plans (WSPs) are advocated as the best
way of ensuring good safe drinking water using a risk management approach. Using a
case study approach to generate qualitative data, organisational culture and WSP
development in water suppliers of varying size, development and structure was studied
to look for examples of best practice or barriers to effective implementation.
Despite WSPs being promoted since 2004, suppliers are still experiencing challenges in
implementation, with deeper organisational culture barriers prevalent such as: lack of
awareness and recognition; uncertainty; complacency; poor internal relationships;
competing priorities; and contrasting internal cultures, in addition to the commonly
espoused reasons of a lack of time or resources. Concern was raised that the public
health motivator of WSPs was becoming lost, as a wide range of additional ‘added
value’ drivers and benefits were identified such as cost savings or commercial drivers.
This was echoed in broader organisational missions and drivers identified; whilst may
employees still identified quality and public health as important, more formal
declarations often prioritised other areas.
In response to identified organisational culture barriers, a ‘taxonomy’ of positive
cultural attributes and a number of practical tools were developed that may assist
suppliers in developing a supportive organisational culture for sustainable WSP
implementation. These positive elements included: managerial commitment; learning
culture; effective internal and external relationships; accountability; open reporting
culture; continual improvement culture; empowerment of staff; organisational
commitment; proactivity; leadership and advocacy; mindfulness of public health; image
and competitiveness. A number of recommendations can be made to those wishing to
implement WSPs. Primarily, it is urged that organisational culture and how it can
impact on effective WSP implementation should be considered. Perceived lack of time
and resources may actually be representative of deeper cultural barriers, and recognise
that WSP implementation is more than just following a set of instructions, it will require
instilling a water safety ‘culture’ within the organisation
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