Study of Safety Culture in Public Universities: A Case Study at the Federal University of Bahia

The maturity of safety culture in academic environments has gained relevance due to the complexity of university routines, which range from laboratory and clinical practices to field, administrative, and pedagogical activities. In public institutions, these challenges are intensified by the diversity of profiles and structural limitations. Thus, understanding the maturity stage of the safety culture allows for the identification of weaknesses, attitudes, and behaviors that influence the institutional environment. Therefore, this study seeks to identify the level of maturity of the safety culture at the Federal University of Bahia, analyze the perception of different groups within the university community, and point out strategic paths for strengthening a preventive and participatory culture. The research used a mixed approach, integrating interviews with managers and technical staff and questionnaires applied to the university community, which enabled a comprehensive assessment of practices and perceptions of occupational safety. The interviews revealed structural weaknesses, such as managerial ignorance about OSH, lack of systematic communication, absence of standardized procedures, and a predominance of reactive actions. Underreporting, difficulties in monitoring actions, and insufficient training were also observed. The community's perception confirmed these challenges, highlighting problems with communication, participation, involvement, and environmental conditions. The dimensions evaluated suggest that the maturity of the safety culture at UFBA lies between the reactive and bureaucratic stages, with occasional advances, but without strong integration between management, institutional processes, and everyday practices. It is concluded that the university needs to move towards a more strategic and proactive OSH management model, strengthening communication, senior management commitment, and community participation. The study offers a comprehensive diagnosis and indicates ways to develop a more mature and sustainable safety culture in the university environment.

Keywords: Safety culture, Organizational maturity, Workplace safety.