An example of the difference between leading and lagging indicators:

Lagging indicators include data on incidents/events ( injuries, fires, explosions, near miss, near hit, etc.)

Leading indicators could include how many safety checklist audits did the lab complete or how many employees completed safety training on topics such as safe handling of compressed gases.

Lagging are what happened (in the past distant or recent)  and Leading are those things routinely done that are known to prevent or reduce severity of incidents.

Both are useful, especially when one wants to see if their culture is changing.

Adapting, as I understand on the list below, simply would mean taking safety into consideration becomes part of how ones does things.   Some people use the term  "safety DNA" it is just part of the task to evaluate where the hazards are in the task, if the equipment is the right equipment, make sure that the appropriate controls are in place.

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu]On Behalf Of Laurie Yoder
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2016 9:39 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Simple benchmarking scale for safety