Behavioural Based Safety is a process that reduces unsafe behaviours that can lead to incidents occurring in the workplace. The process works by reinforcing safe behaviour and identifying the causes of unsafe behaviour.
The Three Generic Types of Approach
A behavioural safety process can be introduced in numerous ways but can
be categorised into one of three generic types, these are:
Top Down: a management driven process that typically has supervisors measuring behaviour and providing one to one feedback and relaying recommendations for improvement to the management team.
Bottom Up: an employee driven process which encourages front line participation in safety. This works on the basis of using peer-to-peer observations which are fed back to a workforce run behavioural safety team who then conduct analysis to develop recommendations for managers to implement.
Collective: a collective approach is where both managers and front line personnel conduct observations. Analysis is then conducted by a behavioural safety team (represented by both managers and front line personnel) to identify the root causes of unsafe practises. Recommendations are then identified and implemented to improve safety performance.
*It should be noted that whilst organisations may initially be considering either a Top Down or Bottom Up approach, all organisations should eventually aim towards adopting a collective approach.
Any behavioural safety process should seek to include the six pillars of behavioural safety, namely:
Awareness: to increase understanding and reduce resistance
Management: to lead by example and support the process
Ownership: to increase participation and develop commitment to continuous improvement
Measurement: to provide a pro-active means of measuring daily safety performance
Feedback: to recognise and praise good safety performance and seek understanding of unsafe acts may occur
Analysis: to objectively identify systemic drivers of unsafe behaviour and to allow for targeted recommendations for improvement
Steps:
1. Train Management Team 1 Day
2. Train Behavioural Safety Co-ordinator 2 Days
3. Train Behavioural Safety Team 2 Days
4. Train Observer - 1 Day
Full Implementation Service
Ryder Marsh will assess your organisation to identify the most effective
method of implementing a bespoke behavioural safety process. Based on discussion
we then develop a plan of implementation to suit the needs and budget of
the client. Typically this involves developing the behavioural based measure
and designing a method for conducting observations, training managers, a
behavioural safety team and behavioural safety co-ordinator. We then train
the initial group of observers, before training a team of 'in house' people
to train and sustain the process.
Behavioural Safety Development Workshop
Ryder Marsh will train an in house team over five days the theory and techniques
used in behavioural safety for those organisations wishing to develop knowledge
their own process in house.
Behavioural Safety Process Reviews
Ryder Marsh can, using their six pillar framework, assess any current behavioural
safety process. Based on interviews with users the report captures workforce
perceptions of the behavioural safety process and coupled with Ryder Marsh's
expertise of the field presents solid recommendations on how to re-energise
the process when results start to plateau.
Behavioural Safety Consultancy
Ryder Marsh offers expert advice on how to develop, design or improve behavioural
safety processes. A consultant will visit the workplace and discuss the
organisational structure and culture to provide a framework and plan of
the most effective means of implementing a behavioural safety process in
your organisation.