The 12 Types of Safety

Safety is imperative to building healthy relationships, workspaces, communities, and societies.

When we think about safety, the first thing that comes to mind is physical but I believe there are a total of 12 types, each carrying an equally important role.

Before beginning, it is important we all have the same definition. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, Safety is defined as:

1. a state in which or a place where you are safe and not in danger or at risk

I, however, would define Safety as:

A state of being where one can exist, free from any external danger (real or imagined) surrounding them in their moment to moment life.

To be or to feel safe means that you are free from any harm or danger (physical, mental, or emotional) in the existing moment. Where things become challenging is when you are asking someone to be more specific about why they feel unsafe.

To help make conversations around safety more productive, it is important to recognize all of the factors that play a role in determining our well-being. It is also important to acknowledge that each individuals' level of tolerance around safety will vary based on our unique lens but it is of my firm belief that to begin understanding safety, we must start with the types and its definitions.

There are 12 types of safety:

1. Physical : The absence of harm or danger, either from another individual or object(s), to one's body.
2. Emotional : The ability to express one's emotions without fear or harm caused by judgment, criticism, ridicule, rejection, or retribution.
3. Psychological : The ability to take interpersonal risks without fear or harm caused by judgment, critism, ridicule, rejection, or retribution.
4. Social : Environments/ social settings where people are all treated with respect, free from bullying, aggression, violence, discrimination, racism, or sexual harassment. This is more relevant in bigger groups with more surface-level interactions (ex. At a company social).
5. Relational : Cultivating an enviornment of trust where indivduals' boundaries are respected and limitations understood. This is more relevant in smaller, intimate environments and conversations (ex. in your therapist's office).
6. Intellectual : The ability to learn and express thoughts and ideas without fear or harm caused by judgment, criticism, ridicule, rejection, or retribution.
7. Sexual : The absence of harm or danger as a result of bahaviour(s) stemming from a sexual nature that is unwarranted.
8. Financial : The ability to cover all essential costs and having a safety net for surprises and long-term goals.
9. Cultural : The absence of harm or danger as a result of one's cultural heritage, including but not limited to racism and discrimination.
10. Spiritual : The absence of harm or danger as a result of one's spiritual beliefs and practices, including but not limited to discrimination.
11. Environmental : The absence of hazards that affect the well-being of others in an area.
12. Digital : Protecting digital devices from malicious attacks.

By breaking safety down into types, it becomes easier for us to begin conversations around identifying the gaps we each have on a micro and macro level.

In next week's article, I will dive deeper into the impact safety that has on our relationships and how we can work to cultivate spaces condusive to team collaboration and growth.

Additional Reads:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232565690_Trust_in_Close_Relationships

https://www.ohscanada.com/features/psychologically-safe-relationships-occur-more-frequently-when-leaders-prioritize-them/

https://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/en

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