1. Aint Misbehavin’ Kirk Dighton B.A.
Independent EHS Consultant-CORDS, LLC
East Central Iowa Safety Conference
Cedar Rapids , Iowa

2. Objectives
Discuss the history of behavior based safety (BBS) programs and the evolution since its discovery.
Identify key terminology associated with BBS Programs.
List the necessary ingredients of a successful BBS program.
Understand the difference between a positive and negative influence for employee response.
Identify the difference between motivation and discipline.
Discuss how a rewards system ties in to a BBS Program.
Understand management’s role in a BBS Program.
Understand the employees’ role in a BBS Program.
Discuss the chain of command associated with BBS Programs.
Know if a BBS Program is right for your company.

5. Behavior-Based Safety – BBS
Definition
Behavior-Based Safety – BBS
A safety program that focuses on improving human behavior to improve injury / incident rates.

6. Behavior- “Bing” Definition
The way somebody behaves: 
Psychology response: 
the way in which a person, organism, or group responds to a specific set of conditions
What something does: 
the way that a machine operates or a substance reacts under a specific set of conditions

7. Herbert William Heinrich
1931- Employed by Traveler’s Insurance
From studies, he concluded that:
A majority of accidents in the work place were caused by human error and could be prevented.

8. Heinrich
If human error was the real cause of accidents, the key to safety was to observe workers, identify what they were doing wrong …………… and change their behavior.

9. B.F. Skinner An American Psychologist was
conducting experiments in the malleability of human behavior.
Skinner’s work helped spur the formation of scientific methods of studying and improving human behavior.
These behavioral methods were applied to industrial
accident prevention.

10. Dr. E. Scott Geller Consultant
Credited with coining the term “Behavior-Based Safety” in 1979.

11. Working World Divided Safety Professionals – Ecstatic
Union Representatives- Firmly Opposed.
Owners and Managers- Lukewarm
Supervisors and Leaders NO WAY!
Workforce- Another buzz word!

12. A Religious Sect!
Like any religion or belief, BBS had it’s dedicated followers.
Human error is main cause of all incidents.
Others
BBS is too one-sided and focuses only on human behavior
Incidents are multi-faceted in root cause.

13. Reinforcement “…behaviors are reinforced, not people”
Psychology of Safety Reinforcement, Reward and Recognition (Geller 2006).
Most studies say that the reinforcement of good behavior should occur when the person goes above and beyond the call of duty, not for simply abiding by the rules.

14. Leadership
Leadership is also key to success of programs. Without leadership buy-in and enhancement it does not work.
Praise must be genuine however and not cheesy to say the least.
Most Supervisors cannot do the “praise” thing without sarcasm. That does not help any program.
Communication…..

15. Communication Exercise
Volunteers ?

17. Communication is 2 Sided
Sender
Receiver and requires
Acknowledgement

18. Safety Survey The safety of my co-worker is not my problem.
 I only work safer because of the reward system.
 When I see a violation of a Cardinal Rule, I speak up and stop the work.
Working safely takes too much time.
I feel the safety observations program works well to improve my safety.
AGREE DISAGREE N/A

19. Motivation v. Discipline
Motivation is positive reinforcement to perform in a correct fashion.
Sometimes with Rewards Programs
Discipline is a negative penalty-driven punishment for wrong-doing.

20. Rewards Programs Very controversial
Rewards for no injuries / recordables
Rewards for attending all training
Rewards for turning in incident reports and safety concerns.
Bounty placed on SOC’s

21. Negative effects Injuries get hidden Near miss / hits get hidden
Co-worker / peer pressure to NOT REPORT.
Possibly trouble around the corner.

22. BBS and Management Role
Buy-in
Total Commitment
Support and enforce
Leaders, Supervisors, Union representatives
Internal Politics
Any program-if not supported from the top = FAILURE

23. BBS and Employee Role Buy in Support with co-workers
Total Commitment
Support with co-workers
Peer pressure to “do the right thing”
GOAL- Go home every day in the same condition as you came in.

24. Successful Safety Program
Management Buy in-Committed to the success.
Risk assessment
Every task – Every step
Include floor workers / persons assigned to task.
JSA / JSEA
Risk abatement – steps to prevent injury or incident
Set review guidelines
C.O.W. / JSEA / JSA
Daily, monthly, as job changes
Set behavioral expectations-BBS
SOC’s

25. Success continued
Identification of the risks-during development of task is best
Abate the risks-at the time of development
Engineering, administrative, PPE
Provide appropriate tooling to perform the task
Proper “timely” maintenance
“Timely” repairs, follow up-
Effective method to report- repair needed
Effective method to report non-repair
STOP WORK understanding for IDLH

26. Success continued All above in place
Set behavioral expectations – proper task steps
Train
Review
Listen and encourage feedback
Improve task
Set attainable goals
Recognize accomplishments
Discipline - Final

27. OWNERSHIP

28. Questions?