Behavior-based safety (BBS) is the "application of science of behavior change to real world

safety Safety is the state of being "safe", the condition of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk. Meanings There are two slightly di ...

problems". or "A process that creates a safety partnership between

management Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business. Management includes the activities ...

and

employees Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any ot ...

that continually focuses people's attentions and actions on theirs, and others, daily safety behavior." BBS "focuses on what people do, analyzes why they do it, and then applies a research-supported intervention strategy to improve what people do".Geller, E. Scott (2004). "Behavior-based safety: a solution to injury prevention: behavior-based safety 'empowers' employees and addresses the dynamics of injury prevention." Risk & Insurance. 15 (12, 01 Oct) p. 66 At its very core BBS is based on a larger scientific field called organizational behavior management. In a safety management system based upon the hierarchy of hazard control, BBS may be applied to internalise

hazard A hazard is a potential source of harm. Substances, events, or circumstances can constitute hazards when their nature would allow them, even just theoretically, to cause damage to health, life, property, or any other interest of value. The probab ...

avoidance strategies or

administrative controls Administrative controls are training, procedure, policy, or shift designs that lessen the threat of a hazard to an individual. Administrative controls typically change the behavior of people (e.g., factory workers) rather than removing the actu ...

(including use of

personal protective equipment Personal protective equipment (PPE) is protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury or infection. The hazards addressed by protective equipment include physical, ...

), but should not be used in preference to the implementation of reasonably practicable safety measures further up the hierarchy. To be successful a BBS program must include all employees, from the CEO to the front line workers including hourly, salary, union employees, contractors and sub-contractors. To achieve changes in behavior, a change in policy, procedures and/or systems most assuredly will also need some change. Those changes cannot be done without buy-in and support from all involved in making those decisions. BBS is not based on assumptions, personal feeling, and/or common knowledge. To be successful, the BBS program used must be based on scientific knowledge.

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