The Safety Culture Ladder was developed to visualize and promote safety awareness, attitudes, and behavior in organizations where physical risks play a role, such as in the construction and finishing sector. Originally launched by ProRail under the name "Safety Ladder," it is now owned by the standards institute NEN. Since the introduction of SCL 2.0 (per 1 September 2023) the focus will be more on the cultural side.

The five steps of the SCL

The ladder has five levels of safety awareness:

1. Pathological – safety is ignored.
2. Reactive – action is only taken after incidents have occurred.
3. Calculated – procedures are present, but not actively experienced.
4. Proactive – safety is a shared responsibility, mistakes lead to learning.
5. Progressive – safety is in every aspect: planned, learned, integrated into daily practice

The transition to SCL 2.0 has led to a clear split in assessment: preconditions (systems) and behavior (the actual execution), which makes audits more thorough and culture-oriented

Why is SCL relevant for the finishing industry?

Construction companies regularly operate under pressure: time, money, and clients, often in complex, temporary construction environments. Structural attention to safety isn't always self-evident, and too many accidents, sometimes serious ones, still occur. This is where the Governance Code for Safety in Construction (GCVB) comes into play, which requires large clients to require a minimum SCL level.

Minimum step 3 from 2025

From July 1, 2026 Companies are required to achieve at least level 3, the so-called "SCL Light" level. This requirement encourages finishers to evolve from a calculating to a proactive culture.

What do these steps mean for finishing companies?

·         Level 1 (Pathological): Safety is not taken seriously. Risks are ignored and incidents are brushed aside. There is no policy or awareness. This level is unsustainable and poses a direct danger in the workplace.

• Step 2 (Reactive) : Procedures and rules are in place, but only when something goes wrong is there a response. Employees follow rules, but not on their own initiative. Documents are in order, but employees often lack an intrinsic sense of security.
• Step 3 (Calculative) : Safety systems are in place (risk analyses, toolbox meetings), but practice is still top-down; responsibility for culture lies primarily with management. Many finishing companies operate in this area.
• Step 4 (Proactive) : Employees take action when risks arise. Unsafe situations are actively reported and discussed. Behavior and culture are monitored, and responsibility is established at all levels.
• Step 5 (generative) : Safety is fully integrated into the company culture. Everyone—from management to operations staff—acts proactively and with intrinsic motivation. This is the highest level and characterizes leaders in the sector.

For finishers, this means that they grow step by step in self-reflection, safety awareness and shared responsibility – from paper to practice.

Challenges for declining companies

• Cost : SCL light can be cheaper than full SCL Original, but certification is still relatively expensive, especially for smaller companies
• Cultural change : From documents to behavior – that takes time, coaching and management drive.
• Certification pressure : Strict requirements (step 3) put pressure on chain partners.

Conclusion

The Safety Culture Ladder is a powerful tool for embedding a safety culture in finishing companies. Certification at level 3 (Light) will soon no longer be a nice-to-have, but a requirement in the construction and finishing industry. Those who invest now in awareness, attitude, and behavior will not only attract requests—they will also create a true safety culture where employees actually work more safely.

SCL is more than a certificate – it's a cultural shift. For the construction industry, this offers a unique opportunity to strengthen quality, safety, and reputation. Companies that take on this challenge are taking the right step forward, both personally and commercially.

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