Behavior-Based Safety

Behavior-Based Safety is a process that helps employees identify and choose a safe behavior over an unsafe one.

Basic Behavior Principles

Safety in the workplace is a combination of three measurable components: the person, their environment, and their behavior. Only when these three elements are combined can workplace accidents be eliminated.

Basic Behavior Principles

The person component consist of the employees: Physical capabilities Experience, and Training

Basic Behavior Principles

The work environment represents: Engineering Controls, Equipment, Job task, and The work culture

Basic Behavior Principles

The final, most often overlooked component is behaviorwhat the person does on the job.

The Behavior-Based Safety Process

Behavior-based safety is based on four key components: A behavioral observation and feedback process; A formal review of observation data; Improvement goals, and Reinforcement for improvement and goal attainment.

Behavioral Observation and Feedback

This is one of the most important components of the process. Observations provide direct, measurable information on employees safe work practices. Employees are observed performing their routine task. The observer documents both safe and unsafe behaviors. The employee is then provided positive feedback on the safe behaviors and non-threatening feedback on the unsafe behaviors. They are also provided with suggestions on correcting the unsafe behaviors.

Formal Review of Observation Data

The data is then analyzed to determine the employees (or departments) improvement in safe behaviors. It can be looked at as an overall percentage. Example: If there were 20 items on the checklist and the worker performed 17 of them safely, then he would get a score of 85% safe.

Formal Review of Observation Data

The improvement between observations could be graphed and displayed for employees to view. When the graphs shows improvement, it provides positive reinforcing feedback to employees.

Improvement Goals
Setting improvement goals increases the effectiveness of feedback and the success of the behavior-based safety process.

Improvement Goals
These goals can take different forms, such as: 1. Percent safe goals 2. Process goals 3. Implementation goals

Reinforcement for Improvement and Goal Attainment

Management must provide immediate, positive feedback to reinforce safe behavior. Rewards can be an effective means of reinforcing goal attainment.

Results
Increased efficiency Increased productivity Increased morale Increase profitability