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    Behaviour Based Safety

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    Behaviour Based Safety

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    Behaviour Based Safety

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    of 4

    http://www.theiet.

    org/cpd

    Behaviour Based
    Safety
    Health & Safety Briefing No. 14
    January 2017

    www.theiet.org
    Introduction

    Major Improvements in workplace health and safety standards have been achieved through the better management of safety. In
    the UK, employees, employers and the Health and Safety Executive have focussed on such issues as safe systems and methods
    of work, a healthier and safer working environment, and safer plant and equipment. Major advances using this approach have
    been made in many countries and, as an example, the UK workplace safety record is now one of the best in the world.

    However, there are limits to the improvements that can be achieved through the above approach. ‘Behavioural Safety’ is a way of
    gaining further improvements in safety performance through promoting safe behaviours with workforce involvement at all levels.
    It is not a substitute for the important and traditional approach of safe systems of work etc. but rather adds a further dimension to
    emphasise and draw upon employee involvement and personal responsibility.

    This Health and Safety Briefing outlines the approach used in Behavioural Safety.

    What is behavioural safety?

    A key process in any journey to safety excellence is the promotion of safe behaviours to reduce accidents and incidents, using
    good communication of learning with the backing and commitment of leaders. This enables, empowers and encourages
    employees (including contractors) to organise, control and improve their own safety and that of their colleagues. Employees often
    have the best solution if we take time to listen. The aim is to instil a questioning attitude and personal responsibility towards health
    and safety in employees at all levels in the organisation.

    As a proactive approach to safety improvement, it aims to provide early warning of potential accidents and incidents by
    the observation of safe/unsafe behaviour in the workplace. It gives individuals the opportunity to share feedback on safety
    performance with their peers, encourages involvement in safety, improves awareness, knowledge and perception of risks in the
    workplace and the importance of human factors. In so doing it operates within an open and just culture which may have wider
    business benefits.

    How is it done?

    Members of the workforce are trained as ‘observers’. They can be both managers and shop floor employees. Having observed
    work as it proceeds and discussed with the individuals and teams involved, improvements are made - with support from
    management. An important aspect is developing confidence among staff (and contractors) to be visible; to question unsafe acts
    and processes, and to praise, encourage, and share good practices. Gradually more and more participants develop the necessary
    confidence and skills so that safety becomes embedded within the ‘bloodstream’ of the organisation and is viewed as a ‘natural’
    part of the workplace which is accepted and encouraged.

    Behavioural Safety delivers a selection of tools and techniques within a continuous improvement process:
    Implement improvements and
    share learning across organisation

    Training/coaching:
    „„ Raising safety awareness
    Trending of actionable data: and risk perception in the
    „„ to prevent repeat workplace
    incidents, events, and „„ Coaching individuals towards
    behaviours defined standards
    „„ to predict safety „„ Examining the consequences
    management system CONTINUOUS of behaviour
    shortfalls IMPROVEMENT
    „„ to predict human
    performance shortfalls

    Observation, discussion and feedback in the


    Information: workplace:
    „„ Recording observations allows local „„ Open questioning techniques, what, why, who,
    and organisational learning where, how
    „„ Reinforcing safe behaviour (good habits)
    „„ Challenging unsafe behaviour (bad habits)
    „„ Promoting a questioning attitude
    „„ Agreeing/actioning immediate improvement
    Behavioural Safety systems will only be effective if:
    „„ All members of the organisation, from top management to the shop floor and workforce representatives, are fully engaged and
    supportive.
    „„ The system is constantly maintained and is not seen as a ‘one-off’ or a ‘gimmick’.
    „„ The necessary time and resources are made available for participation and follow up.
    „„ The underpinning safety management systems and working environment are also fully maintained.

    Some organisations have made substantial improvements in their health and safety performance though using behavioural safety
    and as this occurs, it can provide added impetus and awareness about what can be achieved.

    References and Further Information

    „„ Health and Safety Executive at www.hse.gov.uk/humanfactors/topics/behaviouralsafety.htm


    „„ Institution of Occupational Health and safety (IOSH) at www.iosh.co.uk/behavioural

    These Briefings contain a summary of recent Health & Safety issues, provided for general information purposes only, and should
    not be relied upon as legal advice. The IET has tried to make the Briefings accurate and informative, but they have not been
    prepared by a lawyer and may not constitute an up-to-date summary of the law. The IET accepts no liability for your use of these
    Briefings. Further details and information on broader Health & Safety issues can be obtained from the Government’s Health and
    Safety Executive. Legal advice should be obtained on any specific issues.
    For further information about the IET’s Health and Safety Policy Advisory Group only, please
    contact:

    Health and Safety Policy Advisory Group Secretary


    Policy Department
    IET,
    Michael Faraday House,
    Six Hills Way,
    Stevenage. This content can
    SG1 2AY contribute towards your
    01438 765690 Continuing Professional
    email: [email protected] Development (CPD) as
    www.theiet.org/policy part of the IET’s CPD
    http://www.theiet.org/factfiles/ Monitoring Scheme.
    http://www.theiet.org/cpd
    © The IET 2017

    The Institution of Engineering and Technology is registered as a Charity in England & Wales (no 211014) and Scotland (no SC038698).

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