Behavioral Safety
Behavioral Safety, is it a necessary part of the whole? Are some behavior-based safety programs being implemented at the expense of engineering controls and management accountability? Would an either-or approach work? These are the issues presented in this case.
Please read the case study and answer the questions that follow in NOT more than TWO double spaced pages.
Behavior-based safety (BBS) initiatives fault the worker as the primary cause of accidents and injuries, ignoring the necessity for engineering fixes to improve hazardous equipment and conditions that could eliminate potential causes of incidents. At least, that is the assertion of a number of union safety and health professionals.
Their statements suggest that BBS, by blaming the worker as the main cause of an injury or incident, takes the “spotlight” off those who really need to be involved in an improvement process–management and supervisors. Such critics cite reports that some 90% to 96% of injuries are caused by unsafe behaviors, safety incentive programs and discipline policies. These reports, they assert, wrongly focus on line employees, letting corporate and site management abrogate their responsibility for providing the safest conditions and equipment.
Critics such as the United Auto Workers’ Jim Howe, Jim Frederick of the United Steelworkers and Nancy Lessin of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO have also made public their conclusions related to incident investigations for fatalities and disabling incidents over a span of many years. They assert that most, if not all, were due to:
1. People working in unsafe conditions, with poor workplace design;
2. Failure to take proper preventive measures; and
3. Failure to provide essential safeguards.
Critics of BBS state that if workplace environments and equipment were designed properly in the first place, or redesigned, the need for personal protective equipment and other safety procedures would be eliminated.
Critics of BBS also point to imperfections with many BBS approaches. Too many companies are not investing the necessary resources to truly make a difference in incident prevention. Some firms have adopted the idea from certain providers of BBS programs that line employees are where the attention and behavior change efforts need to be focused. Some business owners and leaders are taking the lives and well-being of their employees for granted and siphon off resources needed for essential safety, health and environmental improvements to other priorities. Some actions are even criminal in nature and display a blatant disregard for life and the environment.
QUESTIONS:
- What is behavior based safety?
- How does engineering controls and management accountability affect safety issues?Do you concur with advocates of BBS or critics of BBS? WHY? (Support why you agree with either advocates or critics of BBS).
- What is the best way to handle the safety issues given both sides of the argument and based on your text readings. Please support your opinions.
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