Citation

Gravina NE, King A, Austin J. Safety Sci. 2019; 112: 66-70.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ssci.2018.10.013

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Behavior-based safety (BBS) interventions have yielded positive results for safety, but recurring challenges, including lack of leadership support and perceptions of the approach blaming the worker, have been observed. A failure to properly educate leaders about the basic principles of behavior may be responsible for these challenges. A consultant workshop model has been shown to be a successful method for teaching leaders behavioral influence skills to positively impact performance in the workplace, but it has yet to be evaluated in a safety context. In this case study, a consultant workshop model was used to teach leaders at a chemical manufacturing plant basic concepts in behavioral science and project management as it relates to safety. Leaders each completed at least one project aimed at improving safety related behaviors or results while being coached. Prior to the onset of the intervention, the average number of injuries per year was 5.0 and the average total recordable rate per year was 2.0 per 100 full-time workers. After the intervention was implemented (fourth quarter of 2012-2017) the average number of injuries per year was 1.2 with an average yearly recordable rate of 0.53 per 100 full-time workers. Information about the workshop program, leader-led projects, and subsequent safety related results are discussed.

Language: en