The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (Health and Safety Commission, 1993: 23) uses the following definition of safety culture:

The safety culture of an organization is the product of individual and group values, attitudes, perceptions, competencies, and patterns of behavior that determine the commitment to, and the style and proficiency of, an organization's health and safety management. Organizations with a positive safety culture are characterized by communications founded on mutual trust, by shared perceptions of the importance of safety, and by confidence in the efficacy of preventive measures.

Health and Safety Commission (HSC) (1993). Organising for Safety: Third Report of the Human Factors Study Group of ACSNI (Advisory Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations). Sudbury: HSE Books.