Behaviour Based Safety BBS

Figure 1: ABC Principle of BBS

Behaviour Based Safety (BBS) is a proactive approach by focusing attention on at-risk behaviours that can create an unsafe condition or lead to an injury. Behaviour, in its simplest definition, is anything that one can see a person do. Since one can easily see most people’s behaviour, therefore can count or measure behaviour if wanted to.

Attitude and behaviour are quite two different things. Attitudes drive behaviours but the both are not always related. Our behaviours are everything we do or say. Whilst there is a link between attitude and behaviour, they are not the same thing! Behaviour though stems out of attitude, it is largely influenced by the circumstances.
Our time tested approach to BBS is based on the fundamental ABC principles: ‘Antecedents influences the Behaviour leading to Consequence in turn becomes cyclic by setting the precedence. Careful evaluation of present HSE practices forms the foundation to BBS design & implementation.

BBS analogy revolves around the trilogy of incidents.

Opportunity + Freedom + Behaviour = Incident

It takes an Opportunity or Freedom with uncontrolled / unregulated Behaviour to cause an incident. With a self-regulating autonomous behaviour, even the existence of many opportunities or freedom would be overlooked to do things right! In Behaviour Based Safety, we focus on the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of people’s actions. We recognise the good and build interventions to address those that can be improved. We focus on ‘Why they do things the way they do?’ and help them overcome. Series of onsite observations, mentoring followed by classroom training, brings in a positive behavioural change and hence the culture.

Figure 2: BBS Approach - Incident Trilogy

Steps to implement BBS in an organisation shall include, but not limited to the following:

Set up a Task-Force and train them as BBS Champions for steering the BBS Implementation Programme

For effective planning & rollout of BBS, train & develop local leadership
It is a Top-Down approach model and works efficient that way

Establish the datum line by conducting a Baseline Survey of the infrastructure, plant & machinery, processes, practices, people behaviour, HSEQ Systems & Procedures, Awareness, Monitoring methods, etc.
Assess the quantum and prioritise tasks, starting with infrastructure and ending with systems & procedures
Conduct Awareness Programmes to all personnel working for and on behalf of the organisation
Make good the infrastructure free from any opportunities for unsafe act
Introduce proactive measures in operational control & HSEQ procedures to regulate operations in a safe manner
Discourage ‘Quick-Fix’ approach to problem solving and make sure a well-engineered solution is implemented
Promote Systematic Problem Solving

Practice Mistake Proofing to prevent opportunities for failures
Focus more on eliminating the cause(s)
Identify motives of fixing blame or cover-up

Root Cause Analysis and Incident Investigations shall additionally focus on the underlying behavioural issues and deploy suitable means to correct them
Risk based job planning & execution

Proactive approach to prevent unsafe conditions / incidents

Identify behavioural issues and provide counselling for correction
Encourage voluntary reporting of unsafe conditions & unsafe acts without any fear of reprisals
Behaviour interventions shall ensure positive reinforcement of autonomy &righteousness
Make ‘Zero Tolerance’ non-negotiable and mean it.
Communicate regularly, encourage participation, recognise achievements
Engage personnel through slogan & poster competition and recognise their efforts
Establish BBS Performance Indicators on an integer scale and integrate with overall performance rating system
Demonstrate management commitment by leading through examples of safe work behaviour
Organise Executive Walkthrough to assess the effective implementation of BBS principles and imbibing it as a culture
Focus on prevention of unsafe conditions at work through every action by design

Safety is an inherent responsibility while certifying the work

Migrate from Conformance Performance Excellence

Watch-out:
Often, BBS implementation starts with a huge enthusiasm and dies away with conflicts and complaints, rather than binding them together. While implementing BBS take care of the following to ward-off any potential pitfalls & conflicts.

Show your commitment to build a safer workplace

Start with the infrastructure. >60% of the incidents happen are due to inadequate infrastructure or unsafe work conditions
Invest in improvising safe working conditions and systematically eliminate every opportunity of unsafe condition or unsafe act

Do not jump on to behavioural correction

It could be very indulging into correct someone else’s behaviour
Set the work environment and procedures in placebefore you set on to do it.

Engage them in solution building

Promote awareness on autonomous behaviour instead of just ‘safety’
Engage them in solution building exercises like simplifying work procedures, redefining work methods, checklists, etc. and make them accountable for that

Behavioural intervention

Identify those who require behavioural correction and deal with them separately
Start with a counselling and help him overcome
Assess the work culture and intervene to make it conducive for the correction
Don’t tolerate violation to work ethos or discipline, especially that contravenes with the law or management commitment through policy or procedures

Don’t come under time pressure

BBS is not a time bound project to complete & celebrate. It is a cultural change across the organisation
Don’t expect quick results. It takes significant time for a cultural change to happen
BBS can’t succeed if such a autonomous behaviour is expected only for safety. It has to be an overall organisation culture

Key deliverables

Turnkey BBS Training & Consulting Project would cover a minimum of:

BBS Executive Appraisal Programme
BBS Champions Training Programme
Updating HSE Documentation to address findings of BBS Baseline Review
BBS Performance Indicators & Reporting mechanism
Skill based trainings like:

Problem Solving, Root Cause Analysis, Mistake Proofing
BBS Assessment for HSE Performance Improvement

Counselling & Consulting for effective implementation

Conflict resolution, Motivation & Responsible Behaviour

BBS Communication Material (Posters)
Assessment to evaluate the effectiveness & maturity of BBS implementation

Contact us for a complimentary Executive Presentation on BBS implementation.

Behaviour Based Safety (BBS)

Key deliverables

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