People in high reliability organizations (HROs) appreciate that the individuals closest to the work are the most knowledgeable about the work. People in HROs understand that in a crisis or emergency, the person with the greatest knowledge of the situation might not be the person with the highest status and seniority. Deference to local and situational expertise results in a spirit of inquiry and de-emphasis on hierarchy in favor of learning as much as possible about potential safety threats. In an HRO, the expectation is that everyone will share their concerns with each other – the organizational climate is such that all staff members are comfortable speaking up about potential safety problems.
