INDIA TODAY: The role of Behaviour-Based Safety programmes: Building a culture of safety
- stubenbergconsulta
- May 18
- 2 min read
New Delhi,UPDATED: Oct 23, 2024 17:14 IST
The role of Behaviour-Based Safety programmes: Building a culture of safety
In today's dynamic business environments, safety is not just a box to tick – it's a mindset. Behaviour-Based Safety (BBS) transforms workplaces by shifting the focus to proactive behaviours, empowering employees to take ownership of their actions, and fostering a culture where safety is ingrained in everyday operations.
In Short
Ensuring employee safety is crucial for modern workplaces
Behaviour-Based Safety (BBS) focuses on modifying employee behaviour
BBS can significantly reduce workplace injury rates over time
For modern businesses and workplaces that operate in dynamic environments, ensuring the safety and well-being of their employees must always be a top priority. However, it’s not just about following rules and regulations. Creating a safe workplace means building a culture where safety is part of everyday behaviour. That’s where Behaviour-Based Safety (BBS) comes in. BBS is about understanding and influencing how employees act to prevent accidents and injuries in the workplace.
Studies have shown that after a year of implementation, BBS programmes can potentially reduce injury rates by about 29%. According to researchers, after five years, the reduction rate increased to an average of 72%; after seven or more years, the average reduction was 79%. Here’s a deep dive into how organisations can unlock the power of BBS in workplaces.
UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOUR-BASED SAFETY (BBS)
Behaviour-Based Safety is an approach that focuses on observing and modifying employee behaviours to enhance workplace safety. As per the Heinrich triangle, considered the cornerstone of workplace health and safety philosophy, up to 88% of work-related accidents involve human behaviour as a contributing factor.
While traditional safety measures often focus on compliance and adherence to rules, BBS takes a step further by recognising that human actions and decisions can seminary impact safety outcomes.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEHAVIOUR-BASED SAFETY
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BBS is important because it focuses on the human side of workplace safety. It highlights the need for open communication, involving employees, training and learning and positive feedback to reduce workplace risks.
Figuring out why people might take risks helps in creating better safety plans. Some of the common reasons include:
Shortcuts to safety: For instance, employees might bypass safety procedures to save time, such as by neglecting to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) for tasks that seem minor.
Old Habits: Long-standing but unsafe practices may persist simply because businesses continue with traditional work methods, which may, in some cases, be hazardous.
Supervisor Influence: If supervisors overlook unsafe behaviours because they speed up task completion, it also reinforces those behaviours among employees.
The organisation must be on board with positive and responsible safety practices to create a workplace without accidents.
A solid Behaviour-Based Safety Programme is crucial for boosting safety performance and keeping employees committed to staying safe.
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