Behavior-based safety

Scope

BBS systems can cover the entire workplace, or specific set of workers (e.g., production workers). The systems can be implemented in nearly any work setting.

Regulatory citations

• None

Key definitions

• Activators: Things (people, places, events) that happen before a behavior is performed. They point a worker toward a behavior. For example, a speed limit sign is an activator. It “conditions” workers to put their foot on the brake (which is a behavior).
• Behavior: These are observable and measurable activities, such as talking, walking, typing, hammering, jumping, or driving.
• Consequence: These come after the behavior and influence whether or not a worker will perform the behavior again, avoid the behavior, change it, etc. For example, a speeding ticket is a consequence of driving too fast; in the future, a person may drive more slowly (a behavior modification) for fear of getting another ticket.
• Safe behavior: A defined list of desirable behaviors, e.g., “wear PPE,” “lift correctly,” “inspect forklift,” that serve as a basis for the BBS system.

Summary of requirements

Following are some best practices regarding BBS:

• Get management support for the BBS system. The process will require significant time commitment from a variety of individuals upfront, and then nearly all employees downstream. While the process does not have to involve a third party, often that’s the most efficient, though costly, way. It is vital to get management support at the outset.
• Create a steering committee. This should include the safety manager, supervisors, line managers and some employees representative of the entire workforce.
• Develop a list of safe behaviors. Analyze all jobs and determine the behaviors that you desire employees to demonstrate.
• Determine the observation system. This is usually peer-to-peer.
• Determine the frequency of observations. In most cases, these are daily.
• Determine the consequences. Generally, these should be positive, in the form of feedback from a peer.
• Create a tracking system. The data generated from the observations serve as a goldmine for safety metrics.
• Train workers on how to conduct observations and also on how to be observed. In addition, workers must understand the purposes of the program, that the observations are not intended to be used in a disciplinary manner, etc.