Safety Culture Ladder level 3: calculative
Level 3 on the Safety Culture Ladder is the calculative level: the systems and procedures for safety are in order, but safety is mainly directed from above and is not yet part of everyday life for everyone on the shop floor. NEN describes it as “the focus is on systems, but not on implementation on the shop floor”. It is the middle of the five levels of the Safety Culture Ladder.
Level 3 is the level that most companies need. Since July 2026, level 3 is the minimum requirement within ViA, the tender agreement of the Governance Code Veiligheid in de Bouw . ProRail also requires at least level 3 from contractors. Below, you can read what level 3 looks like in practice and what the auditor wants to see.
Characteristics of Safety Culture Ladder level 3
The official NEN description describes a calculative culture with these characteristics:
| Characteristic (NEN) | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| A lot of attention to safety management systems and overviews | RI&E, TRAs, inspections and records exist and are kept up to date |
| A strong emphasis on information and data | Dashboards with incident figures, IF and inspection counts |
| ”Because it is well arranged on paper, the organisation believes it works safely” | Trust in the system rather than in behaviour |
| Mainly managers are involved in safety and compliance | Employees follow, but think along little |
| (Near) accidents and unsafe situations are not always reported | Reporting feels like a hassle or a risk |
| Changes are mainly new or stricter rules | After an incident, an extra procedure follows |
Important to know: level 3 is not a “pass” in the sense of a final level. It is an organisation that has arranged safety well. The next step, level 4, is about whether people want to do it themselves.
What does a level 3 company sound like?
| Who | Statement | What it reveals |
|---|---|---|
| Director | ”Our IF has fallen this year, and all toolbox talks have been held.” | Steering on figures |
| KAM coordinator | ”It is in the procedure, so everyone knows it.” | Trust in paper |
| Site manager | ”I check whether they do it, otherwise I address them.” | Compliance through supervision |
| Fitter | ”I follow the rules, they are there for a reason. But thinking along is for the KAM department.” | Following, not ownership |
| Fitter | ”Reporting a near miss? Then I have to fill in another form.” | Reporting is a barrier |
An example. An installation company with VCA** has everything in order: TRAs, monthly inspections, toolbox talks. During the audit, a fitter says he fills in the LMRA card “because he has to”. At another location, the auditor sees a ladder without a base support, while the site manager has just left. Systems good, behaviour still dependent on supervision: that is level 3.
What does the auditor look for at level 3?
In a Safety Culture Ladder audit, two auditors hold interviews at all levels and observe on the workplace. They do not check whether your folders are complete, but how safety is experienced. Read more about the way of working on the audit process.
| What the auditor examines | Level 3 signal |
|---|---|
| Interview with the board | Can explain the safety policy and goals clearly, with figures |
| Interview with line managers | Know the procedures and actively steer on compliance |
| Interview with employees | Know the rules and the reporting route, but do not always know what happens to their report |
| Workplace observation | Rules are mostly followed, especially when someone is supervising |
| Reports and analyses | The reporting system works and reports are analysed, but they mainly come from line managers |
| Improvement actions | Structured and followed up, often in the form of new rules |
If you want to know what level 3 requires per theme, such as leadership or working with subcontractors, look at requirements per level.
Which clients require Safety Culture Ladder level 3?
Level 3 is the threshold for the largest clients in construction, infrastructure and rail.
| Client or framework | Requirement | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| ViA, clients who have signed the Governance Code | At least level 3 from July 2026 | SCL Original, SCL or SCL Light |
| ProRail, recognised rail contractors | At least level 3 | SCL Original certificate |
| ProRail, recognised engineering firms | At least level 3 from 1 July 2026 | SCL certificate |
| ProRail, contractors and engineering firms not yet recognised | Level 3 within 3 months of contract award | SCL certificate |
The exact thresholds and conditions of ViA are on the page ViA requirement. Always check the tender documents of your client.
Which SCL product should you choose for level 3?
For level 3, you have three options. They differ in audit scope and in what you receive.
| Product | For whom | Result | Highest achievable level |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCL Light | Smaller organisations (from 5 employees; separate variant for 5 to 50) | Statement | Level 3 |
| SCL | From 5 employees | Certificate | Level 4 |
| SCL Original | From 5 employees, 100% audit every year | Certificate | Level 5 |
Do you want to move on to level 4 later? Then choose SCL or SCL Original, because SCL Light does not go beyond level 3. If your client explicitly requires SCL Original, as ProRail does for recognised rail contractors, you have no choice. Read more about the differences on the certification routes page.
The Approved Self Assessment does not count for ViA and does not give a level. For a level 3 requirement, you therefore need an audit by a certification body.
From level 2 to level 3: a quick check
Are you still at level 2? Then the systems to identify risks in advance are usually missing. Check these five points before you plan an audit:
| Question | Yes/no |
|---|---|
| Is there a current safety policy that employees know? | ☐ |
| Are risks assessed in advance for each project or task? | ☐ |
| Do employees also report near misses, and are these analysed? | ☐ |
| Do line managers visibly steer on compliance with agreements? | ☐ |
| Are improvement actions followed up with an owner and a deadline? | ☐ |
Five yeses is a good sign. Confirm it with a baseline measurement in the SCL web tool and a gap analysis.
From level 3 to level 4: from rules to ownership
The step to level 4 is the hardest on the ladder. You already have the systems. Now safety must belong to everyone, not only to management. These are the shifts an auditor looks for.
| From (level 3) | To (level 4) | Concrete action |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance through supervision | Working safely without supervision | Employees set the working agreements for their own tasks themselves |
| Reports come from line managers | Everyone reports, and reporting is normal | Feedback on every report within a week, and discuss good reports in the toolbox talk |
| After an incident, a new rule | After an incident, learn together | Discuss incidents with the crew: what do we learn, not who caused it |
| Management checks | Management asks for feedback | Line managers ask during site visits: “What makes your work unsafe?” |
| Safety as a separate topic | Speaking up to each other is normal | Training in speaking up, including towards line managers |
Read what this requires in practice on the page Safety Culture Ladder level 4.
Frequently asked questions about Safety Culture Ladder level 3
Is level 3 enough?
For most tenders, yes: it is the ViA minimum. Some ProRail sectors, such as workplace security and cable and drilling companies, require level 4.
Can I reach level 3 with good procedures alone?
Procedures are the foundation, but the auditor talks to your people and looks at the workplace. If employees do not know the procedures or do not follow them, you will not reach level 3.
How long is a level 3 certificate valid?
Under SCL 2.0, a certificate is valid for three years, with follow-up audits in years 2 and 3. Your level can also go down at a follow-up audit.
More about the Safety Culture Ladder
- The 5 levels: overview of all levels
- ViA requirement: level 3 in tenders
- Step-by-step plan: from baseline measurement to certificate
- SCL products (NEN) : official overview