Risk culture

In this so-called "risk society", it is crucial that emergency services such as the Brussels Fire Brigade continuously strengthen their resilience. A strong risk culture plays a key role in this. 

Risk culture refers to the shared values, attitudes, and behaviors within an organization when it comes to risk. It is about how we identify, discuss and address risks, both in the preparation and in the execution of our tasks. 

A healthy risk culture encourages: 

• awareness of potential hazards;
• open communication about risks and near-misses;
• responsibility at every level;
• continuous improvement based on experience and reflection. 

The risk culture is an ongoing commitment that goes beyond merely reacting to incidents. It relies on knowledge, preparation, mobility, innovation and collaboration. 

Urbanization, constantly evolving technologies, increasing interconnectedness, climate change, industrial and health risks — all these factors make our environment more complex and therefore more vulnerable. 

Risks are no longer exceptional events, but a daily reality. To deal with it, it is no longer enough to react. We need to think ahead, prepare and act together.  

The risk culture is a shared set of knowledge, behaviors and reflexes that enables us to recognize dangers, prepare for them, know how to act and learn lessons from each situation.  It is based on a strong conviction: risks are part of life, but it is possible to control them. 

The way we understand and deal with risks helps determine the success of our interventions. For the Brussels Fire Brigade, the risk culture is at the heart of every action — from the field to the training room.  

This culture applies to a wide range of situations: 

• Recurring risks, such as house fires or assistance to people: these occur frequently and are well documented, which makes an adapted organization possible.
• Incidental risks, rarer but potentially serious (such as industrial accidents, storms or attacks): these require specific resources and targeted preparation. 

To deal effectively with these challenges, the fire brigade bases its operation on five pillars of risk management: 

1. Forecasting: permanent identification and analysis of the risks on the territory through cartography, studies and monitoring.
2. Prevention: risk reduction in advance through safety rules, checks, awareness-raising and adjustments to the environment.
3. Preparation: continuous training, planning, adapted equipment and realistic exercises to strengthen the right reflexes.
4. Implementation: effective and safe interventions, adapted to the reality on the ground.
5. Evaluation: systematic feedback and analysis of experiences in order to continuously improve. 

The risk culture is the common thread throughout the work of the fire brigade: long before the intervention, during the action and also afterwards — in the evaluation and optimization.