Securing safety as a right: from knowing to doing

Abstract

Issues of injury prevention and safety promotion are inextricably linked to questions of the application of knowledge to address the needs of society. Advances in science and technology have made it possible to minimise the occurrence and impact of injuries. We also know much more about what actions enhance or constrain safety promotion. Yet there is a gap between safety standards attained versus what is possible in both resource rich and poor settings all over the world. Violent acts and accidents continue to endanger the lives of many in spite of our knowledge base. The politics of application of knowledge bears some reflection. This paper focuses on the gap between what we know and what we do as scientists, practitioners, individuals and societies to prevent injury and promote safety. It identifies two clusters of the drivers of this gap. Environmental: constitutional, values including the strength of a science culture, policy, implementation capacity, monitoring and evaluation, and accountability. Human Factors: attitudes, education levels, skills, and motivation. It concludes that scientific knowledge and data analysis to inform policy-making and implementation in injury prevention and safety promotion is a necessary, but not sufficient condition for success. It suggests that securing safety as a right requires closing the gap between what we know and what we do. The application of knowledge and public accountability for performance are key drivers of safety and injury prevention.