In recent years industries have begun to look at the importance and contribution of behavioral safety that focuses on people’s behavior as the cause of most of the injuries and accidents. This should remind us how important behavioral safety is and how it helps in improving the safety culture and serves as a powerful tool in reducing the exposures and developing safe behaviors in the era of COVID-19.
There are a lot of accidents that could actually be prevented if people were just doing the things they are supposed to do. When workers accept safety procedures and practice safe behaviors, they take responsibility for their own actions which would create a culture of safety.
Many organizations have realized that an organization can become more productive, efficient and profitable only when a safety culture is established. In fact, many people who work in the field of safety do not really know what a “safety culture” is. The most important indicator of a positive safety culture is the extent to which the employees are actively involved in safety on a daily basis.
To inculcate behavioral safety, one should have a good attitude towards safety. Its better explained “the way we behave even nobody is observing” as Behavior Science Technology (BST) has stated that between 80% and 95% of all accidents are caused by unsafe behavior.
A safety culture can be established by focusing on safe operating procedures as well the attitudes and behaviors of every employee. While focusing on zero injuries, it’s necessary to gain a better understanding of which behaviors are leading to positive activity-based performance and which behaviors need to be improved.
BBS approach strives to understand causes of incidents and near misses and correct them through the behavior of relevant people. Everyone in a team environment must feel encouraged and comfortable when reporting an incident and correcting unsafe practices, regardless of company hierarchy.
Behavior Based Safety approach can influence employee actions toward safer outcomes, ideally by preventing an accident or injury before it occurs. Implementing a behavior based safety program is the most comprehensive way for companies to promote safety, eliminate hazards and prevent injuries.
When implemented correctly, a Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) can provide positive rewards to change unsafe behavior, reduce workplace injuries, minimize lost production hours, and improve workplace morale, the essential elements for creating a strong safety culture. Behavior-Based Safety is that matters most because 80% of all accidents occur due to the choices we make and how we act - that is, our behavior. Unsafe acts, rather than unsafe conditions, are the root cause of most incidents.
Why Behavior?
One tends to behave SAFELY if the SAFE way is the EASY way and that leads to positive behavior and becomes a habit to act safely.
One tends to behave UNSAFELY if the SAFE way is DIFFICULT or uncomfortable and that leads to negative reinforcement and unsafe becomes a habit.
If we really understand the consequence of our actions, it will result in SAFE behavior
It’s essential to assess the behaviors that have the potential to result in injuries instead of simply focusing on the idea of zero injuries. This behavior assessment process can have a better approach to mitigate risks associated with safety behaviors and improve safety outcomes.
Behavior-Based Approach
In simplistic terms it’s an observation and feedback process that uses a continuous improvement technique called DO IT
D: Define -Define critical behaviors to improve
O: Observe – Observe target behaviors to set a baseline to set specific goals for achievement
I: Intervene- Involve to change target behaviors
T:Test the impact of the intervention
In addition to this, the industries are also facing challenges in controlling exposure to COVID-19 and must realize the need of BBS in implementing safe behaviors that could reduce the spread of corona virus. BBS Program in the industries in the era of COVID-19 can help preventing the spread of corona virus.
Implementing Behavior Based Safety can not only identify unsafe behaviors that could lead to accidents but helps identifying and changing the behaviors that will reduce the risk of viral exposure for ourselves, our co-workers, and our communities in the era of COVID-19.
Number of research studies shows the power of behavioral science in increasing the consistency of safe behaviors. Even the spread of COVID-19 serves as an indicator for organizations to sustain a safety culture by incorporating a behavioral component into a comprehensive exposure-reduction process.
Whether the organization has an existing Behavior Based Safety process or not, following steps must be followed for reducing the exposures.
Step 1: Targeting the COVID-19 Exposure Reduction Behaviors
Step 2: Developing Observation Process
Step 3: Conducting the Observations and Providing feedback
Step 4: Using the data to remove obstacles to Safe Practices.
I. Targeting the COVID-19 Exposure Reduction Behaviors
Exposure-reduction behaviors vary depending upon the specific industry and may include targeting the critical behaviors which are observable and seen. Those behaviors that are responsible for the spread of COVID-19 must be observed and measured.
II. Developing Observation Process
Observer's expertise from an existing process shall be there to focus on COVID-19 exposure reduction behaviors and finding out which specific locations, job types, and tasks should be monitored.
III.Conducting the Observations and Providing feedback
Observers should note on the checklist the behaviors which are observed in a safe manner (protected) and which are increasing exposure to COVID-19 (exposed).
Observers should explain that they are there to help reduce exposure to COVID-19 and feedback should be given to the person as an opportunity to modify exposed behaviors.
IV. Using the data to remove obstacles to Safe Practices.
BBS program shall use the data and provide successful feedback that helps reinforce the behaviors needed consistently. Effective successful feedback should have an impact of those behaviors on themselves or others—in this case, reduced COVID-19 exposure for themselves, their families, and the community.
Behavior-Based Safety has not only proven as a tool in improving safety culture but also a powerful tool in the fight against COVID-19 and help to keep the employees, their families, and our community safe.
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