Personal safety remains a constant challenge that employees face primarily on their own. How each perceives and responds to workplace exposures, ultimately determines their likelihood of being injured.
Human nature is what makes it necessary for companies to institute safety protocols, and it’s the reason why they need to reinforce those protocols through a safety incentive program that encourages employees to work safely and reward them when they do.
A behavior-based safety (BBS) process's focus is on employee behavior during tasks or in reaction to surrounding environmental events- equipment failures, process breakdowns, poor lighting or other work conditions.
A New York subway train derailed earlier this week, injuring thirty-four riders and striking fear into the hearts of subway riders who had believed their biggest concern was subway delays, not injury or death on the way to work.
Behavior-based safety has been practiced since the Ford Motor Company used it to increase seat belt usage in 1970s. Controversy has dogged it ever since, especially in the 1980s and 1990s when the BBS bandwagon attracted a small army of consultants.
On Thursday, June 22, Dr. Tim Ludwig drew an audience of 500 attendees at ASSE’s Safety 2017 to his presentation on stopping the ever-popular blame game as a safety practice and instead striving for a better understanding of human behavior.
Some of the sessions taking place this week have been dubbed “Super Sessions” due to their focus on key issues in the safety industry. One such Super Session Tuesday morning took place on the expo floor and spoke of the dangers of complacency.
A spirited Plenary Session on Wednesday, June 21, will be held town hall-style, featuring some of the most recognizable names in safety. They will focus on the controversial topic of behavior-based safety (BBS) to understand the human side of safety performance improvement in a time of political transition and de-regulation.
What are some common behaviors? How do we change those behaviors? What are some practical examples of behavior-based safety (BBS)? Those are the questions Sophia Sushailo of 3M talked about Tuesday morning at AIHce.
