Behavior Based Safety

BEHAVIOUR BASED SAFETY (BBS)

1
Objectives

► Understanding behavior based

safety in the context of
OHSAS 18001-2007 requirements
► The benefits of behavior-based systems.
► The
basic principles of how to motivate safe
behavior.
►A readiness for behavior-based safety.
Is an organisation ready for Behavior-Based Safety?

OHSAS 18001-2007 Clause 4.3.1

The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a

procedure(s) for the ongoing hazard identification, risk
assessment, and determination of necessary controls.

The procedure(s) for hazard identification and risk assessment

shall take into account:
routine and non-routine activities;
activities of all persons having access to the workplace (including
contractors and visitors);
human behaviour, capabilities and other human factors; ----------
Is an organisation ready for Behavior-Based Safety?

OHSAS 18001-2007 Clause 4.3.4

The organization shall establish, implement

and maintain a procedure(s) to make persons
working under its control aware of
a)the OH&S consequences, actual or potential, of their work
activities, their behaviour, and the OH&S benefits of improved
personal performance; ---------
Why Safety Programs Do Not Work:

► Safety is a priority, not a value!

► Safety is not managed in the
same manner as production,
quality, and cost issues!
► Safetyis not driven through continuous
improvement!
“Fallacies or Realities” in Safety Fables?

► Conditions cause accidents!

► Enforcing rules improves safety!
► Safetyprofessionals can
keep workers safe!
► Low accident rates indicate safety programs
are working well!
► Investigating to find the root cause of
accidents will improve safety!
► Awareness training improves safety!
► Rewards improve safety!
Traditional Safety
Safety
Training Slogans R
R Policies
e e
p g
r u
i Fewer l
a
m Accidents
a t
n i
d o
s Contests n
Safety & Committees s
Meetings Awards & Councils
What Behavior-based is...

Safe People vs Injuries Equal

Safe Places Management Errors

Behavior Measure Behaviors

Management vs Results

Observation & Positive

Feedback Reinforcement
What percentage of these accidents are a result of:

► Unsafe conditions, OSHA violations,

dangerous equipment? 6%
► Unsafe actions, at-risk behaviors,
poor decisions? 94%
Core Elements in Successful Safety Programs

►A culture that says “safety” is important around

here!
►A tight accountability system!
HISTORICAL ACCIDENT/INCIDENT MODEL
Effective Safety

Compliance is necessary but not

sufficient for effective safety.

Safety is about people, and behavior is the

challenge.
PRESENT MODEL

FATALITY &
SIGNIFICANT
ENVIRONMENTAL
INCIDENT

LOST TIME & MODERATE

ENVIRONMENTAL
INCIDENT REACTIVE
RECORDABLE & IMPORTANT PROCESS
ENVIRONMENTAL INCIDENT

FIRST AID & MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL

INCIDENT
NEAR-
NEAR- MISS ACCIDENT

UNSAFE ACT OR CONDITION

BEHAVIOURAL PROCESS
PROACTIVE SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS SYSTEMS
PROCESS
TOP MANAGEMENT’S VISION AND SUPPORT

42
Organizational Performance Model

Systems Behaviors
Great
Performance

Climate
Systems

• Accountability
• Orientation
• Communication
• Training
• Decision Making
• Employment
• Measurement
• Auditing
Behaviors
► Honesty and Integrity

► Enablement

► Recognition

► Empowerment

► Observation and feedback

► Listen with empathy

Climate Variables

► Confidence/trust
► Interest in people
► Understanding problems
► Training/helping
► Teaching to solve
problems
► Much information
► Approachability
Behavior Based Safety

Activities

Fewer at-risk
Behaviors

Fewer
Accidents
Human Behavior is a function of :

• Activators (what needs to be done)

• Competencies (how it needs to be done)
• Consequences (what happens if it is done)

They determine attitude !!!

Behavioral Model

Antecedents
(trigger behavior) B = f (c)

Behaviours
(human performance)

Consequences
reinforce or punish behavior
Some examples of activators

Activators only set the

stage for behaviour or
performance - they
don’t control it.
Definitions:
Behavior: Any directly measurable thing that
a person does, including speaking, acting, and
performing physical functions.
Definitions:

Consequences: Events that follow behaviors.

Consequences increase or decrease the
probability that the behaviors will
occur again in the future.

If you don’t send in that

Oh please let it be Bob! payment we’ll take you to
court
Consequences need to be ...

Soon vs Delayed

Certain Personal
vs vs
Uncertain Organizational

Positive vs Negative
Consequences - How would you view them?

Aggressive Drivers
Why is one sign often ignored, the other one often
followed?
Attitudes

Are inside a person’s head -

therefore they are not observable
or measurable but are manifested
as behaviour.
However
Attitudes can be changed by changing behaviors !!
Human behavior is both:

Observable

• Measurable

Therefore

Behavior can be managed !

Behavior Based Safety: What Is It?

• An excellent tool for collecting data

on the quality of a company’s
safety management system
(Hazard and Risk Assessment)
• A scientific way to understand why people behave
the way they do when it comes to safety
• Properly applied, an effective next step towards
creating a truly pro-active safety culture where
loss prevention is a core value
• Conceptually easy to understand but often hard
to implement and sustain
Behavior Based Safety: What It Is Not!

• Only about observation and feedback

• Concerned only about the behaviors
of line employees
• A substitution for traditional risk management
techniques
• About cheating & manipulating people & aversive
control
• A focus on incident rates without a focus on
behavior
• A process that does not need employee involvement
Why Implement BBS?

► Safety is about people.

► Compliance is not sufficient.
► Consequences drive behavior.
► Motivating

► Performance Feedback
Why Implement BBS?

► Truly proactive
► Broad awareness
► Deep Involvement
► Proven effective
► Transcends workplace safety
The Behavior Based Safety Challenge:

To create conditions that encourage people to

collaborate because they want to not because
they have to
Let’s do
it!!
Only 4 Types of Consequences:

►Positive Reinforcement (R+)

("Do this & you'll be rewarded")

►Negative Reinforcement (R-)

("Do this or else you'll be penalized")

Behavior
Punishment (P)
("If you do this, you'll be penalized")

►Extinction (E)
("Ignore it and it'll go away")
R+ : any consequence that follows Good safety
a behavior and increases the suggestion Joe! Keep
probability that the behavior will bringing ‘em up!
occur more often in the future - You
get something you want

One more report like

this and you’re outa
here!!

R- : a consequence that
strengthens any behavior that
reduces or terminates the
behavior - You escape or avoid
something you don’t want
 R+
P
e
r
f
o The effects of positive
r reinforcement
m
a
n
c
Time
e
P P
e
r The effects of
f punishment
o
r
m
a
n
c
e Time
Three Essential Questions
What behaviors are being observed?
Why are those behaviors present?
Now What will be done to correct the system deficiencies?
BBS Features
► Peer to peer observation
► Supervisory observation
► Behavior audit
► Snapshot

► Software support
► Customized behavior inventories
► General behavior inventories
► Emphasis on skilled coaching and feedback
Roles and Responsibilities

►Workers

►Observers / Supervisors
►Safety Staff
►Managers

►Safety Involvement Team

Safety Observation Process

► Step 1: PLAN where and when to make

observations and recall what to look for
► Step 2: OBSERVE worker behavior for
safe and at-risk performance
► Step 3: COACH for improved performance by
positively reinforcing or redirecting
► Step 4: RECORD what was observed,
why it occurred, and now what will be done
OBSERVATION
 Reactive Behavior
 Personal Protective Equipment
 Specific Job Risks
 Tools and Equipment
 Safe Work Practices
 Adjusting PPE
 Ergonomics
 Changing position / Turning away
 Stopping work / Attaching safe guards
 Rearranging job
OBSERVATION
Personal Protective Equipment
► Head gear
► Eye protection and face shielding
► Hearing protection
Specific Job Risks
► Strike against or caught
► Fall, slip hazard
► Contact hot, chemical or electric
► Inhale or swallow hazardous substance
Tools and Equipment
► Wrong for the job
► Used incorrectly
► In need of repair or maintenance
► Clutter & poor housekeeping
 Safe Work Practices

► Not defined
► Not known or understood
► Ignored or done poorly
► Not compatible with task
Ergonomics
► Forceful exertions
► Awkward postures
► High repetition
► Long duration w/o rest
Positive Reinforcement
Shaping Behavior
► Give praise
► Explain why this behavior is right and/or safe
► Encourage continued behavior
► Communicate the behavior you saw
► Check for understanding of the job
► Coach for improved performance
► Contract for safe behavior
Keys to Success:

► Meaningful Employee Empowerment

► Designing a Well Planned and Supported BBS
Process
► Managing BBS Process with Integrity
Obstacles To Success:
► Poorly Maintained Facilities
► Top-down Management Practices
► Poor Planning/Execution
► Inadequate Training
 Continuous Improvement

 Data Compilation

 Safety Involvement Team

 Problem solving

 Implement solutions

 Successful?
Sample Survey
The Ohio Division of Safety & Hygiene
PERCEPTION SURVEY
PART 1

A. Enter your work location: B. Enter your shift: _____________

(Example: production, office, etc.)

___________________________

C. Circle your job function: D. Enter years with company: ____

Line worker, supervisor, or manager

___________________________

PART 2

Y N 1. Do you feel you received adequate Y N 2. Do supervisors discuss Y N 3. Is discipline usually assessed when
job training? accidents and injuries with employees operating procedures are violated?
involved?

Y N 4. Would a safety incentive program Y N 5. Do you perceive the major cause of Y N 6. Does your company actively
cause you to work more safely? accidents to be unsafe conditions? encourage employees to work safely?

Y N 7. Is safety considered important by Y N 8. Are supervisors more concerned Y N 9. Do you think penalties should be
management? about their safety record than about assessed for safety and health violations?
accident prevention?

Y N 10. Have you used the safety Y N 11. Is high hazard equipment Y N 12. Is the amount of safety training given
involvement teams to get action on a inspected more thoroughly than other to supervisors adequate?
complaint or hazard which concerned equipment?
you?

Y N 13. Have you been asked to perform Y N 14. Are records kept of potential Y N 15. Are employees influenced by your
any operations which you felt were hazards found during violations? company’s efforts to promote safety?
unsafe?

Y N 16. Are employees provided Y N 17. Does your company deal Y N 18. Are unscheduled inspections of
information on such things as cost, effectively with problems caused by operations made?
frequency, type and cause of accidents? alcohol or drug abuse?

Y N 19. Is off-the-job safety a part of your Y N 20. Does management insist upon Y N 21. Are safe operating procedures
company’s safety program? proper medical attention for injured regularly reviewed with employees?
employees?

Y N 22. Are you interested in how your Y N 23. Does your company hire Y N 24. Do your co-workers support the
company’s safety record compares with employees who do not have the company’s safety program?
other companies in your industry? physical ability to safely perform
assigned duties?

Y N 25. Do supervisors pay adequate Y N 26. Is safe work behavior recognized Y N 27. Do employees participate in the
attention to safety matters? by supervisors? development of safe work practices?
Behavior-Based Safety Approaches

• Understand the “safety culture” or “OHS maturity” of the management

and organization.

• Look for various indications of this level of maturity, e.g:

1.Risk assessment (how hazards have been analyzed and risk evaluated)
2.Reporting of incidents / near misses (level of reporting, cause analysis,
level of prevention in actions, etc)
•Management involvement / feed-back / “visibility” (incident reports,
improvements suggestions, meetings, plant visits, etc)

•Initiatives on safe behavior, e.g. BBS,Consulatation and Communication

1.Questionnaires, Surveys (focusing on behaviors and attitudes)
2.Broader view of OHS (health) aspects such as: workload, stress, harassment,
etc.
Check if the organization has considered these kind of hazards in 4.3.1, 4.3.3 etc.
 Average Reduction
of Injury Frequency

► Implementation of BBS

• After 1 year 34%

• After 2 years 44%
• After 3 years 61%
• After 4 years 71%
Safety Intervention Strategies
(By NSC)

Approach # of Studies # of Subjects Reduction %

Behavior Based 7 2,444 59.6%

Ergonomics 3 n/a 51.6%
Engineering Change 4 n/a 29.0%
Problem Solving 1 76 20.0%
Gov’t Action 2 2 18.3%
Mgt. Audits 4 n/a 17.0%
Stress Management 2 1,300 15.0%
Poster Campaign 2 6,100 14.0%
Personnel Selection 26 19,177 3.7%
Near-miss Reports 2 n/a 0%