30 May 2025
New products for the Safety Culture Ladder
Developments within the Safety Culture Ladder (SCL)
From 1 June 2025, NEN, the scheme manager of the Safety Culture Ladder (formerly Safety Ladder) will offer new products within the Safety Culture Ladder.
Why?
According to NEN, these revamped products are better aligned with the Safety Culture Ladder and are accessible to smaller organisations.
New: SA (Self Assessment)
SA replaces ASA (Approved Self Assessment)
No more external audit
Self-assessment using the SCL web tool
Employ or hire internal auditor who has attended NEN training
A self-declaration must be completed in the web tool
Validity period in NEN register is 1 year with option for another year. Then switch to other SCL product.
Modified: SCL Light (for larger organisations)
This is the current SCL Light with a few minor changes:
In the web tool, smart goals must be formulated that focus on behaviour
When assessing the action plan in year 2 and year 3, the auditor mainly looks at the effect. Has the level of safety culture improved?
Not possible to omit the external audit in year 3
New: SCL Light for small organisations
Especially for small organisations of 5 to 50 employees (including temporary staff), focusing on practical feasibility and behavioural change.
Smart goals must be formulated in the web tool that focus on behaviour
Focus on effect and impac
Employ or hire an internal auditor who has followed the NEN training course;
A self-declaration must be completed in the web tool
External audit in year 3 expires in case of demonstrable improvement in the level of safety culture (assessed in year 2)
Summary of key information and dates
From 2 July 2025, organisations will be able to use the updated products
Until 31 December 2025, it is still possible to have an ASA audit performed, but only for existing and signed bids.
Both new products require your (hired) internal auditor to have followed NEN training!
Existing declarations and statements
Issued declarations (on ASA) and statements (on SCL Light) remain valid for the period for which they were issued.
Normec Certification advises you to keep your current contract. When the contract expires, we will be happy to review with you the options for the renewed SCL Light. Do you prefer to switch in the interim? If so, feel free to contact us to discuss the options. To switch from a current SCL Light to an SCL Light for small organisations, the organisation must start with a (re)certification audit belonging to year 1 of the cycle.
Do you have any questions or would you like more information on the Safety Culture Ladder? Then please contact us on 0345 585 000 or send an e-mail info-cert@normecgroup.com.