In its simplest form, behavior-based safety (BBS) can be defined as the programs, systems and resources dedicated to identifying and eliminating unsafe acts or human errors. While the establishment of OSHA and the development of BBS programs have changed the face of safety over the last four decades, recent safety results nationwide are flat.
There seems to be a growing urgency to act on this problem, but many organizations are not sure what to do. Perhaps the time has come to ask the question, “What is beyond behavior-based safety?” Below are a few ideas for moving traditional behavior-based safety programs into the 21st century.
John Maxwell, author and noted authority on leadership, defines a leader as “one with influence over others.” BBS has done a great job of focusing on organizational leadership and encouraging managers, vice presidents and CEOs to become engaged in the safety process. While this is a crucial aspect of leadership, it overlooks the individuals who actually exert the most influence over workers’ choices.
Our work environments have rank-and-file employees who exert great influence over their co-workers. These informal leaders are typically subject-matter experts who excel in their trade; they may be veteran employees or simply charismatic leaders. To reach a new level of safety success, we need to engage both senior leaders and rank-and-file leaders.