Behavior-Based Safety
Behavior-based safety (BBS) is an approach to improving workplace safety by focusing on what workers do and why they do it, and then applying strategies to promote safe behaviors in the future. It is based on the belief that human behaviors – people’s actions and reactions – contribute in some way to many or most accidents.
Many organizations have used this approach and realized safety improvements, but BBS cannot comprise a safety program by itself. Effective safety programs must address other factors, including worker skills and knowledge, the site or facility, and tools and equipment, among other things.
This course describes the elements of an effective behavior-based safety program, the Antecedents-Behaviors-Consequences (ABC) model of behavior, the tools needed to create an effective workplace safety program, the steps required to implement a BBS program, some examples of safe behaviors and unsafe behaviors, and the BBS observation process.
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Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Define the term “behavior-based safety,” or BBS
- Describe the three elements which contribute to workplace safety
- Describe the tools which must accompany a BBS program to create an effective workplace safety program
- Describe the ABC model of behavior, including when antecedents and consequences are good motivators for behaviors
- List the requirements of an effective behavior-based safety program
- Describe the steps required to implement a BBS program
- Identify examples of safe behaviors and unsafe behaviors
Specs
| Course Level | Intermediate |
| Languages | English |
| Compatibility | Audio, Video |
| Based on: | Industry Standards and Best Practices |
Key Questions
What are the three elements that contribute to workplace safety?
They are human attributes (worker knowledge and skills), work environment (equipment and site or facility), and behaviors (choices workers make and things they do).
Can a BBS program replace a facility’s safety program?
No, because a safety program must also address the other two elements of workplace safety: human attributes and work environment.
What is the only available method of successfully causing workers to exceed safety standards?
Only positive consequences (recognition or rewards) can cause workers to exceed standards.
Who should be selected for a BBS program “steering team”?
Members should come from all levels of the organization, be willing to serve, and have leadership skills, communication skills, respect of others, commitment to safety, strong interpersonal skills, time available, and/or resources they can provide to the process.
What is the goal of observation, an important aspect of BBS?
The goal of observation is to determine whether safe behaviors are being used, and if unsafe behaviors are observed, to find out why.
Sample Video Transcript
The ABC model of behavior is a way to evaluate human behavior in order to determine why people act the way they do and do the things they do. The letters A, B, and C stand for the following: ·Antecedents are the things that cause a person to do the things or act the way they do. These can include persons, places, things, or events. ·Behaviors are the visible actions a person performs ·Consequences are what happens after the behavior. Consequences can be positive or negative, and they can become antecedents for future behaviors.
Additional Resources
- Health and Safety Authority (HSA) – www.hsa.ie/eng/
- HSA Publications – http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Publications_and_Forms/Publications/Safety_and_Health_Management/behaviour_based_safety_guide.pdf
- Occupational Safety and Health Training (OSHAcademy) – www.oshatrain.org
- Publication – http://www.oshatrain.org/pdf/otn717w.pdf
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