"Behavior-Based Safety (BBS): Concepts and Implementation"

What is Behavior-Based Safety (BBS)?

Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) is an approach in OHS (Occupational Health and Safety) management that focuses on observing and improving work behavior to help prevent accidents and enhance workplace safety.

This approach encourages companies to identify behaviors that support safety as well as behaviors that potentially increase the risk of accidents.

Examples of safe work behaviors include:

• Using PPE according to potential hazards and work procedures.

• Checking equipment condition before use.

• Complying with applicable operational procedures.

• Keeping the work area tidy.

• Reporting unsafe conditions to the responsible parties.

• Following safety procedures when performing high-risk work.

Conversely, potentially unsafe behaviors may include skipping equipment inspection steps, ignoring safety procedures, or entering hazardous areas without following applicable requirements.

Nevertheless, worker behavior should not be assessed in isolation from working conditions. A person's behavior can be influenced by equipment design, facility availability, workload, time pressure, training quality, and management support.

Therefore, good BBS implementation does not only focus on individual actions but also evaluates the system conditions that influence these behaviors.

Objectives of Behavior-Based Safety

The implementation of BBS aims to help companies build a safer work environment through behavioral changes and improvements in working conditions.

Here are some of its main objectives.

1. Increase Safe Work Behavior: BBS helps workers recognize actions that support safety and apply them consistently in daily activities.

2. Identify At-Risk Behavior. Through structured observation, companies can identify actions that potentially increase the risk of accidents. These findings can be used to determine educational needs, procedure improvements, or additional hazard controls.

3. Build Safety Awareness: BBS encourages workers to be more actively attentive to their own safety and that of their coworkers. This awareness needs to be supported by open communication and a work environment that allows workers to report hazards without fear of undue punishment.

4. Increase Worker Involvement: Workers can be involved in safety observations, discussions about safe work barriers, and the formulation of practical solutions. This involvement helps the company obtain firsthand information about working conditions in the field.

5. Support OHS Performance Improvement: Observation data can be used to determine improvement priorities, evaluate intervention effectiveness, and support continuous OHS program development.

Basic Concepts of Behavior-Based Safety

To understand BBS, companies need to know several principles that form the basis of its implementation.

1. Behavior Observations: Observations are conducted to find out how work activities are carried out in real conditions. Observations can focus on aspects relevant to safety, such as PPE use, compliance with work steps, equipment checks, and communication during high-risk work. Observations must be conducted based on clear criteria so the results are consistent and can be used for improvement.

2. Constructive Feedback: After observation, workers can be given feedback regarding appropriate behaviors as well as aspects that still need improvement. Feedback should be delivered specifically, objectively, and solution-oriented. For example, if a worker skips an equipment check before use, the observer can explain the importance of the check and discuss the barriers that caused the step to be skipped.

3. Reinforcement of Safe Behavior: Safe behavior can be reinforced through recognition, appreciation, and positive support. For instance, the company gives appreciation to a team that consistently performs equipment checks and reports unsafe conditions. Positive reinforcement should not only be given based on the absence of accidents, as this can make workers reluctant to report incidents or hazards.

4. Behavior Cause Analysis: When at-risk behavior is found, the company needs to find out the cause. Several factors to evaluate include:

• Are work procedures easy to understand?

• Have workers received adequate training?

• Are the required PPE and equipment available?

• Do production targets create excessive time pressure?

• Does the work area layout support safe activities?

• Are supervision and management support adequate?

This analysis is important so that the company does not rush to blame workers for problems that are actually related to the work system.

5. Continuous Improvement: BBS needs to be run consistently through observation, analysis, corrective action, and evaluation. Observation results are used to determine improvement priorities. Once actions are implemented, the company evaluates whether the changes actually improve safety.

How to Implement Behavior-Based Safety in a Company?

BBS implementation needs to be planned according to work characteristics, risk levels, and the company's safety culture.

Here are the steps that can serve as a guide.

1. Obtain Management Support. The first step is to obtain commitment from company leadership. Management needs to provide the necessary resources, time, training, and support for the program to run consistently. In addition, leaders must set an example of safe work behavior and ensure operational targets do not push workers to take unnecessary risks.

2. Identify At-Risk Work Activities: The company needs to determine the activities that will be the focus of observation. Priority can be given to jobs with potentially serious consequences, jobs that frequently experience procedure deviations, or activities that show safety issues. This identification must consider hazards and risks comprehensively, not just visible behavior.

3. Determine Safe Behavior Criteria. Next, the company compiles a list of behaviors that can be observed and assessed objectively. For example, in machine operation activities, observation criteria may include:

• Checking machine conditions before use.

• Using PPE according to requirements.

• Compliance with operating procedures.

• Use of machine guards according to design and procedures.

• Implementation of hazardous energy control procedures when necessary.

Criteria must be tailored to the type of work and applicable safety procedures.

4. Train Observers. Observers need to be equipped to conduct consistent observations, provide constructive feedback, and record results objectively. Observers must also understand that the program's goal is to improve safety, not to find individual faults.

5. Conduct Field Observations. Observations are conducted while work is ongoing, keeping in mind the safety of observers and workers. Observation results can record safe behaviors, at-risk behaviors, work environment conditions, and barriers affecting procedure implementation. If a serious hazard or a condition with the potential to cause an imminent accident is found, control measures must be taken immediately according to company procedures. The company does not need to wait for BBS data collection to finish to address the hazard.

6. Provide Feedback to Workers: Observation results are discussed with workers professionally and non-judgmentally. If appropriate behavior is found, the observer can give appreciation. If at-risk behavior is found, the observer needs to explain the risks and find out the reasons for the action. A dialog approach helps the company understand whether the problem stems from knowledge, skills, tool availability, procedures, or operational pressure.

7. Analyze Observation Data: The collected data is analyzed to find behavioral patterns and the most frequently found safety barriers. For example, observation results show that equipment checks are frequently skipped during shift changes. Such findings need to be followed up by examining the handover process, available time, clarity of responsibilities, and ease of using the checklist.

8. Implement Corrective Actions: Corrective actions must be tailored to the root causes found. For example:

• Improving unclear procedures.

• Providing appropriate equipment or PPE.

• Improving work area layout.

• Adjusting time allocation and workload.

• Providing additional training.

• Strengthening supervision and safety communication.

The company should prioritize effective hazard controls, not just rely on changing worker behavior.

9. Evaluate Program Effectiveness. Evaluation is conducted to determine whether the BBS program produces the expected changes. The company can monitor indicators such as the consistency of safe behavior, completion of corrective actions, reporting of hazardous conditions, and safety incident trends. Evaluation results are used to improve observation methods and determine priorities for the next program.

Examples of Behavior-Based Safety Implementation in the Workplace

Here are some examples of BBS implementation in daily work activities.

Example 1: Use of Personal Protective Equipment. Situation: A worker enters a work area that requires the use of eye protection, but the worker does not use it.Observation: The observer notes that eye protection is not used according to the area's requirements.Feedback: The worker is given an explanation about exposure risks and the importance of using eye protection.Cause analysis: The company checks whether the PPE is available, comfortable to use, and appropriate for the job.Corrective action: The company ensures appropriate PPE is available, provides education, and improves supervision if necessary.

Example 2: Equipment Inspection Before Use. Situation: An operator uses equipment without performing the required initial inspection.Observation: The observer notes the skipped inspection step.Cause analysis: The company checks whether the inspection procedure is easy to understand, a checklist is available, and inspection time is factored into the work process.Corrective action: The company clarifies the procedure, provides a checklist, and ensures operators understand the inspection steps.

Example 3: Safe Behavior When Lifting Goods Situation: A worker lifts goods using a body posture that potentially increases the risk of injury.Observation: The observer notes the lifting method and the condition of the goods being handled.Cause analysis: The company evaluates the weight of the goods, storage height, lifting frequency, and availability of lifting aids.Corrective action: The company can provide manual handling technique training, provide mechanical aids, and improve the storage layout. This example shows that ergonomic problems cannot always be solved merely by asking workers to change their behavior. Job design also needs to be improved.

Example 4: Compliance with Lockout Tagout Procedures. Situation: During machine maintenance work, hazardous energy control steps are found not to be performed according to procedure.Initial response: Work is stopped or secured according to applicable safety procedures.Cause analysis: The company checks worker understanding, procedure clarity, availability of lockout devices, and work supervision.Corrective action: The company fixes the cause of the problem and ensures hazardous energy control procedures are implemented before work resumes. For jobs with hazardous energy risks, BBS must not be used as a substitute for mandatory technical safety systems and safety procedures.

Success Indicators of a BBS Program

To determine the effectiveness of BBS implementation, the company needs to set indicators that align with the program's goals. Here are some indicators to consider:

• Consistency of safe behavior: Knowing behavioral changes based on clear observation criteria.

• Number of observations conducted: Monitoring the execution of observation activities according to plan.

• Completion of corrective actions: Assessing whether findings are followed up on time.

• Reporting of unsafe conditions: Assessing worker involvement in identifying and reporting hazards.

• Worker participation: Measuring worker involvement in safety activities.

• Incident and accident trends: Monitoring changes in safety incidents alongside other indicators.

• Safe work barriers resolved: Assessing improvements in systems and working conditions that support safety.

The percentage of safe behavior can be calculated based on predetermined observation criteria. However, this indicator needs to be interpreted carefully and should not be the sole measure of OHS performance.

A decrease in the number of incident reports, for example, does not always indicate improved safety. It could also happen because workers are reluctant to report incidents.

Therefore, BBS evaluation needs to combine behavioral data, working conditions, finding resolutions, and other safety indicators.

What is the Difference Between Behavior-Based Safety and OHS Culture?

Behavior-Based Safety and OHS culture are interconnected, but they are not the same.

• Focus:

  • BBS: Observation and improvement of work behavior related to safety.

  • OHS Culture: Values, beliefs, habits, and safety practices within the organization.

• Approach:

  • BBS: Structured observation, feedback, and analysis of behavior causes.

  • OHS Culture: Leadership, communication, policies, participation, and organizational habits.

• Scope:

  • BBS: Can focus on specific activities or behaviors.

  • OHS Culture: Broader and covers the entire organizational environment.

• Expected Results:

  • BBS: Safe behaviors increase, and safety barriers are addressed.

  • OHS Culture: Safety becomes part of decision-making and how the organization works.

BBS can be one approach to support the development of an OHS culture. However, a strong safety culture also requires management commitment, an effective risk control system, and an environment that supports reporting and learning.

Challenges in Implementing Behavior-Based Safety

Although BBS can help improve safe work behaviors, its implementation has several challenges.

1. Workers Feel Watched for Punishment If observation is used to find faults or give disproportionate punishment, workers may reject the program or hide safety problems. To overcome this, the company needs to explain the program's purpose, maintain consistent implementation, and encourage open communication.

2. Focusing Too Much on Individual Faults: Workplace accidents can involve various factors, including equipment condition, job design, supervision, and organizational decisions. Therefore, BBS analysis must consider systemic causes and not jump to the conclusion that accidents happen solely due to worker negligence.

3. Lack of Management Support: The program will be hard to run if observations are made without real follow-up. Management must ensure important findings are addressed, resources are available, and system improvements are implemented according to risk priorities.

4. Inconsistent Observation Data: Differences in understanding among observers can cause observation results to be incomparable. Observer training, the use of clear criteria, and periodic evaluations can help improve data consistency.

5. No Follow-Up on Findings: Data collection without problem resolution can reduce worker trust in the program. The company needs to assign persons in charge, deadlines, and verification mechanisms for every corrective action.

The Role of Management in BBS Success

BBS success does not depend only on workers or the OHS team. Management plays a crucial role in building conditions that allow safe behaviors to be applied consistently.

Management needs to:

• Establish clear safety policies and objectives.

• Provide adequate resources and equipment.

• Ensure production targets do not sacrifice safety.

• Follow up on observation findings consistently.

• Encourage hazard reporting without undue retaliation.

• Involve workers in program evaluation and improvement.

• Assess program effectiveness based on relevant data.

When management shows a real commitment to safety, BBS can be part of the effort to build a safer work environment that is open to improvement.

Conclusion

Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) is an approach in OHS management focusing on observing and improving safe work behavior. Its implementation can include setting behavior criteria, field observation, providing feedback, cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous evaluation.

However, BBS must not solely focus on individual behavior. Companies also need to identify and improve working conditions, equipment, procedures, and organizational factors that affect safety.

With management support, worker involvement, and adequate risk control, BBS can be one approach to support OHS performance improvement and the development of a safety culture in the company.

PT HSE Swadaya Indonesia supports the development of Occupational Health and Safety knowledge and practices through OHS training and education programs.

Companies that wish to increase worker safety awareness can discuss their OHS program training and development needs according to their work characteristics and operational risks with PT HSE Swadaya Indonesia.

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