Behaviour based Safety (BBS) is a method of avoiding human error and improving workplace safety by observing and analyzing employees’ behavior while they work. Behaviour based safety is NOT about blaming the employee for safety mishaps. It is about positively reinforcing safe behaviors while providing corrective feedback when risky behaviors are observed. Health and safety in the workplace is influenced by a number of factors including the organizational environment, managers’ attitude, commitment to the nature of the job or task and the personal attributes of the worker. Safety-related behaviour in the workplace can be changed by addressing such influences. One way to improve safety performance is to introduce a behavioural safety process that identifies and reinforces safe behaviour and reduces unsafe behaviour.

Behavioural safety processes aren’t a ’quick fix’. There are some fundamental elements to implement. These include policies, systems, assessing and improving management performance and operational factors, training and design.

Need for Behavior Based Safety (BBS)

• Investing in building a safety culture where line workers willingly involve in daily activities relevant to injury prevention along with proactive behaviors from management
• Integrate people behaviors in safety equation, in other words, the human performance link to safety results
• Strengthen safety systems and investment in infrastructure by supporting appropriate safe behaviors
• Reduce injuries

Principles of Behavior Based Safety

BBS assumes that behavior is a cause of accidents; therefore, by using observations of behaviors potential accidents can be identified and mitigated.
• Observe – measure – manage
• Feedback is essential to improvement
• Consequences motivate behavior
• Communication is the key
• Participation creates ownership

Barriers to Safe Behaviour

• Untrained or unskilled workers
• Complacency
• Disagreement on safe practices

• Personal choice
• Culture
• Ineffective management systems

• Inappropriate rewards
• Poor facilities and equipment
• Disorganization of supervisors/leaders

Selecting and Observing Desired Safe Behaviors:

When putting BBS into action within the workplace, it’s important that EHS managers properly select and observe employee behavior. Behaviors selected for observation must be:
• Observable (i.e., can be seen or heard),
• Reliable (i.e., seen the same way by two or more people),
• Something over which an employee has control, and
• Described in a positive way (i.e., what should be done, not what shouldn’t be done).
Keep in mind that behavior-based safety observations must be objective—that is, based on what you actually see a person doing, not on opinions or interpretations about an employee’s performance.

Behavior based safety programs give the opportunity to observe employees and then to offer feedback that will improve the safety culture within the organization. This type of environment is one of learning and positive reinforcement, rather than one of negative consequences.