OBJECTIVE to assess patient safety culture in a university hospital. METHODS cross-sectional study with data collection through the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture applied in electronic device. A total of 381 employees were interviewed, corresponding to 46% of the sum of eligible professionals. Data were analyzed descriptively. the Cronbach's alpha was used to calculate the frequency and reliability. RESULTS most were women (73%) from the nursing area (50%) and with direct contact with patients (82%). The composites related to "teamwork within units" (58%, α=0.68), "organizational learning - continuous improvement" (58%, α=0.63), "supervisor/manager expectations and actions promoting patient safety" (56%, α=0.73) had higher positive responses. Nine composites had low positive responses, with emphasis on "nonpunitive response to error" (18%, α=0.40). Only the item "in this unit, people treat each other with respect" had positive response above 70%. The patient safety assessment in the work unit was positive for 36% of employees, however only 22% reported events in past year. CONCLUSIONS the findings revealed weaknesses in the safety culture at the hospital, with emphasis on culpability.