Power distance refers to the degree of inequality between higher level managers and lower level subordinates within an organization. In cultures with high power distance, subordinates are unlikely to speak up about safety concerns out of respect for their managers' authority. This can threaten safety culture by preventing open communication about issues. A blame culture focuses on blaming individuals for mistakes rather than identifying root causes, allowing the same errors to be repeated. Managers should seek to understand why mistakes occurred in order to prevent recurrences, rather than blaming employees. Excessive workloads can also threaten safety if it causes staff to cut corners on procedures in order to finish tasks.