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Facilitator’s
Guide
BEHAVIOURAL SAFETY

© Copyright - All Rights Reserved

 BEHAVIOURAL SAFETY

CONTENTS

Introduction to the Facilitator’s Guide 3

Introduction to the Video Program (Duration: 12 mins) 4

Transcript of the Video Program 5

PART 1: What is an Unsafe Act? 11

PART 2: What is Behavioural Safety? 13

PART 3: What is a Behavioural Safety Program 14

PART 4: Summary 15

Questionnaire 16

Answers 20

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This Facilitator’s Guide is supplied as part of the subscription service; Montie. This guide is
only to be used during a valid subscription period. Where a Montie subscription is not valid,
this guide may not be used.

INTRODUCTION TO THE FACILITATOR’S GUIDE

The aim of this Facilitator’s Guide, when used in conjunction with the Video program, is to
provide the facilitator with discussion points important to the overall development of the
program and to allow participants the opportunity of discussing the impact the program may
have on current work practices and whether in fact changes may be required.

The time allocated to the program will be determined by which areas are seen as important to
each Organisation, the time taken to develop the points made in the program and whether
other data specific to your own environment is included in addition to, or instead of, the
program examples.

EACH FACILITATOR SHOULD CAREFULLY READ THE GUIDE DISCUSSION

NOTES SUGGESTED AND PREPARE THEIR OWN INPUT ACCORDINGLY.

The program transcript is included to allow your Organisation to fully research the program
content and develop specific examples critical to the performance of your own workforce.

Where the Video program is made available to small or remote sections of your Organisation,
some other examples or discussion points may be preferred to suit the needs of these people
and if so, should be developed prior to distribution of the program. Maximum benefit will
then be obtained by your people.

All information included in the Facilitator’s Guide may be copied and distributed with the
exception of the transcript of the Video program. Any information which is copied or
distributed must only be used internally by the Organisation which purchased the guide.

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INTRODUCTION - THE VIDEO PROGRAM (Duration: 12 mins)

Statistics show that unsafe acts are the most common cause of workplace accidents. Despite
the introduction of training programs and safe work practices and procedures, controlling
unsafe acts has proven to be difficult.

The reason for this is that unsafe acts involve the Human Factor, that is, they occur as a result
of people’s attitudes and behaviours.

Behavioural Safety offers a way to reduce the incidence of unsafe acts by modifying people’s
behaviours and improving their attitudes towards safety.

This program is designed to provide an understanding of Behavioural Safety and how a

Behavioural Safety program works. The program looks at:

• Unsafe acts and unsafe conditions

• Behaviours and attitudes towards safety
• The theory of Behaviour Modification
• The ABC model
• Positive reinforcement
• The three components of a Behavioural Safety Program
• The Behavioural Safety Observation Process

The program is designed to suit any work environment where a Behavioural Safety program
is currently being used or where it is being considered.

Reducing the occurrence of unsafe acts will reduce number of accidents and injuries that
occur in the workplace.

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TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO PROGRAM

Everyone knows that accidents usually occur when a number of different

circumstances or factors combine to create hazardous situations. These factors
can be individually identified as accident causes. Some will be seen as minor or
contributory factors and other will be identified as key or major accident causes.

When we look closely at these factors it becomes clear that they can be
categorised into two distinct groups.

The first group can be classified as unsafe conditions and includes such things as
untidy work areas, faulty equipment, slippery floors and inadequate lighting.

The second group of factors can be classified as unsafe acts that result from
people’s behaviour. For example, not following safe work procedures, the
inappropriate use of equipment or the failure to wear required personal protective
equipment.

Of these two groups statistics prove that unsafe acts are by far the most
significant. Simply put, unsafe acts are recognised as the key causes of most
accidents. So, it naturally follows that if we can significantly reduce the number of
unsafe acts that occur in the workplace we will also significantly reduce the
number of accidents.

Traditionally unsafe acts have been controlled mainly through the implementation
of training programs, and the establishment of safe work procedures and
practices.

However, despite these efforts unsafe acts continue to be a major factor in the
majority of workplace accidents.

The reason unsafe acts are so difficult to control lies in the fact that, unlike unsafe
conditions, unsafe acts involve the human factor. That is, they occur as a result
of people’s behaviours and attitudes.

By adopting a behavioural approach to safety, which must be used in conjunction

with traditional control measures, the human factor, and therefore unsafe acts,
can be effectively addressed. This approach is known as Behavioural Safety.

Behavioural Safety aims to reduce the incidence of unsafe acts by modifying

people’s behaviour and improving their attitude towards safety.

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TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO PROGRAM (cont’d)

Because Behavioural Safety is essentially about reducing the occurrence of

unsafe acts it is important to clearly define what an unsafe act is.

What is an Unsafe Act?

An unsafe act can be defined as an intentional or unintentional violation of an

established safe work practice, procedure or method.

The most common causes of unsafe acts can be categorised under the heading
of acts of indifference. In these situations safe work methods are known but aren’t
followed. For example, personal protective equipment is not worn, or correct
manual handling techniques are not used.

Other causes of unsafe acts can be categorised under the heading of a lack of
knowledge… the main sources of which are inexperience and poor or insufficient
job training. This takes into account situations in which people perform jobs
they’re not trained, certified or authorised to carry out. An example of this would
be the unauthorised entry into a confined space.

In addition to these causes, there are a number of other factors that can
contribute to the occurrence of unsafe acts. These include:

• Lack of concentration
• Physical limitations of individuals performing specific job tasks
• Fatigue
• Haste
• Laziness
• Clowning around
• Loss of emotional control, and
• Altered states of consciousness resulting from medical conditions or use of
drugs and alcohol.

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TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO PROGRAM (cont’d)

Regardless of the underlying reasons for unsafe acts occurring, the justification
for them is frequently couched in terms such as:

• It’s too complicated

• It takes too long
• It’s outdated
• It doesn’t apply to me
• It’s wrong
• It’s unnecessary, or
• It’s just as safe doing it the way I’ve always done it.

It becomes clear then that addressing the issue of unsafe acts has a lot to do with
changing people’s attitudes towards safety and getting them to commit to
following safe work practices and procedures all the time. But how can this be
achieved?

According to Behavioural Safety, the way to change a person’s attitude towards

safety is to change the way they choose to behave. … But what exactly is
Behavioural Safety and how does it work?

What is Behavioural Safety?

Behavioural Safety is based on the well recognised theory of Behaviour

Modification which states that a person’s behaviours and attitudes can be
modified and changed using positive reinforcement.

Positive reinforcement is a technique that uses feedback and discussion to

establish positive consequences for improved behaviour. In the context of
Behavioural Safety feedback and discussion should establish sound reasons why
particular job tasks should be performed differently to improve safety.

The theory of Behaviour Modification can best be understood using the ABC
model.

‘A’ represents the antecedent event that triggers behaviour. An antecedent event
is the cause or event that precedes behaviour.
‘B’ represents the behaviour the person chooses to take. And ‘C’ represents the
consequence of that behaviour.

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TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO PROGRAM (cont’d)

Manual handling is a good example of a workplace event that can affect people’s
behaviour. Applying the ABC model, the item that needs to be moved would
represent ‘A’ – the event that triggers behaviour. The person’s choice regarding
how to lift or move the object would represent ‘B’ – the person’s behaviour.
Whether the person’s behaviour places them at risk or not would represent ‘C’ –
the consequence of the person’s behaviour.

The critical variable is the person’s choice to act in a particular way. According to
the theory of Behaviour Modification, whether a person chooses to behave in a
particular way or not depends on the consequences of that behaviour. If the
consequences are positive then the behaviour is more likely to be repeated. If the
consequences are negative, the behaviour is more likely to be avoided.

In Behavioural Safety positive reinforcement is used to establish positive

consequences for safe behaviour, so that in specific job situations people choose
safe behaviours instead of ‘at risk’ behaviours. This can be achieved through the
implementation of a Behavioural Safety Program.

What is a Behavioural Safety Program?

A Behavioural Safety Program has three main components.

The first component involves identifying specific ‘at risk’ behaviours that could or
have contributed to accidents. A list or inventory of behaviours critical to safety
should be compiled. It is important that this completed list has a broad
acceptance to ensure that everyone involved agrees on what behaviours are to
be observed.

The next component is the observation process.

A Behavioural Observation involves observing an individual or a team of people

while they perform a job task.

The Behavioural Observation process has three steps. The first step is to select a
job task to be observed. The second step is to inform the person or people
involved that the task they’re performing is going to be observed. And the final
step is to conduct the observation.

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TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO PROGRAM (cont’d)

The purpose of the observation is to determine what is being done safely and
what is ‘at risk’ or unsafe behaviour.

Observations should be conducted on a regular basis and address all the “at risk”
behaviours that have been identified and listed as potential accident causes.

And the final element of a Behavioural Safety Program is the feedback and
discussion component.

Feedback uses information from the observations to bring about change in

people’s behaviour. For example, if a person is using a hazardous substance
and is unaware of its potential dangers, a sound explanation of the hazards and
how the substance should be handled is likely to impact on how they will deal
with the substance in future.

Conducted regularly, observations followed by appropriate feedback and

discussion emphasise the importance of safe behaviours and reinforce the need
to perform job tasks safely.

A Behavioural Safety program is most effective:

• when everyone involved is adequately informed about all aspects of the

program
• when communication between all parties is open and honest
• when the focus remains firmly on safe and unsafe behaviours
• when people’s names are not recorded as part of the observation process to
ensure anonymity and avoid blame being attributed
• when the people involved are not disciplined as a result of an observation,
but rather are encouraged to act safely, and
• When people contribute genuinely to the running of the program and the
observations

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TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO PROGRAM (cont’d)

Behavioural Safety is not a quick fix to improved safety performance. It is an on-

going process that needs to be systematically applied and integrated into normal
workplace activities.

It is also clear that a successful Behavioural Safety Program can only operate in
an environment that already has in place established safe work procedures and
practices, adequate job training, access to safety information and most
importantly a mechanism in place to identify and control unsafe conditions.

A Behavioural Safety Program will inevitably identify existing unsafe conditions

AND if there is not a clear and separate process in place to deal with these
situations the purpose of the behavioural observation will deteriorate into a safety
observation.

Behavioural Safety is not a replacement for other safety measures. It is rather, an

additional activity that, if managed properly, can be used to improve safety
performance and build a better and safer workplace.

_________________________________________

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PART 1: WHAT IS AN UNSAFE ACT?

Accidents usually occur when different factors combine to create a hazardous situation.
These factors fall into one of two groups: unsafe conditions or unsafe acts.

Unsafe conditions include such things as:

• Untidy work areas

• Faulty equipment
• Slipper floors
• Inadequate lighting

Unsafe acts are intentional or unintentional violations of an established safe work

practice, procedure or method. Statistics show that unsafe acts are the most common
cause of workplace accidents. Unsafe acts include such things as:

• Not following safe work practices and procedures

• Incorrect use of equipment
• Not wearing PPE

The most common causes of unsafe acts are:

Acts of indifference - work methods are known but aren’t followed. For example:

• not wearing PPE

• not using correct manual handling procedures

Lack of knowledge - people perform jobs that they are not trained, certified or authorised
to perform. For example:

• unauthorised entry into a confined space

A number of other factors can contribute to the occurrence of unsafe acts. These include:

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• Lack of concentration
• Physical limitations of individuals performing specific job tasks
• Fatigue
• Haste
• Laziness
• Clowning around
• Loss of emotional control
• Altered states of consciousness resulting from medical conditions or use of drugs
and alcohol

Often when people try to justify their unsafe behaviour they use terms such as:

• It’s too complicated

• It takes too long
• It’s outdated
• It doesn’t apply to me
• It’s wrong
• It’s unnecessary, or
• It’s just as safe doing it the way I’ve always done it.

Traditional training programs and the establishment of safe work procedures and practices
have not been successful in controlling unsafe acts. This stems largely from the fact that
unsafe acts involve the human factor; that is, they occur as a result of people’s
behaviours and attitudes.

A behavioural approach to safety, known as Behavioural Safety, is often the best way to
address unsafe acts because it deals specifically with people’s behaviours and attitudes
towards safety.

EXERCISE:
Think of some examples of unsafe behaviour that might occur in your work environment.

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PART 2: WHAT IS BEHAVIOURAL SAFETY?

Controlling unsafe acts has a lot to do with changing people’s attitudes towards safety
because our attitudes affect the way we behave.

According to the theory of Behaviour Modification the way to change people’s attitudes
is to change the way they choose to behave. This is achieved through the use of positive
reinforcement.

The technique of positive reinforcement uses feedback and discussion to bring about
positive consequences for safe behaviour.

Behavioural safety can best be understood using the ABC model:

The ABC Model

A – Antecedent event
B – Behaviour
C – Consequence

‘A’ represents the antecedent event that triggers behaviour.

‘B’ represents the behaviour the person chooses.
‘C’ represents the consequences of that behaviour.

The critical variable is the person’s choice to act in a particular way. According to
Behaviour Modification, how a person chooses to behave is determined by the
consequences of that behaviour.

If the consequences are positive then the behaviour is more likely to be repeated.
If the consequences are negative the behaviour is more likely to be avoided.

EXERCISE:

Apply the ABC model to behaviour that occurs in your work environment. Give examples of
safe and unsafe versions of that behaviour.

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PART 3: WHAT IS A BEHAVIOURAL SAFETY

PROGRAM?

A Behavioural Safety program has three parts.

The first part involves identifying specific at risk behaviours. A list or inventory of
behaviours that could or have contributed to accidents should be compiled. Everyone
involved should agree on what behaviours are to be observed.

The next part is the observation, which involves observing an individual or a team
perform a job task.

The third part of a Behavioural Safety program is feedback and discussion.

The Behavioural Safety Observation

A Behavioural Observation is conducted to identify ‘at risk’ or unsafe behaviour. A

Behavioural Observation has three steps:

Step 1: Select a job task to be observed

Step 2: Inform the person or people involved that the job task they are performing
is going to be observed

Step 3: Conduct the observation

Behavioural Observations should be conducted regularly and they should address all the
‘at risk’ and unsafe behaviours that have been identified as potential causes of accidents.

The final part of a Behavioural Safety program is the feedback and discussion
component. Following the observation, this step provides the person or people who have
had their job tasks observed with feedback regarding their performance in terms of safety.

Feedback involves the use of information gathered from the observation to bring about
change in people’s behaviour. ‘At risk’ and unsafe behaviour is replaced with safe
behaviour.

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PART 4: SUMMARY

For a Behavioural Safety program to be effective everyone involved needs to be

adequately informed about all aspects of the program. Communication between all parties
should be open and honest. The focus of the program should remain firmly on safe and
unsafe behaviours rather than on unsafe conditions. The use of people’s names should be
avoided to ensure anonymity and to avoid the attribution of blame. People should not be
disciplined as a result of an observation, but rather they should be encouraged to act
safely. Finally, people involved in a Behavioural Safety program should contribute
genuinely to the running of the program and the observations.

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QUESTIONNAIRE
(Participants to complete and return to facilitator for correction.)

PART 1: WHAT IS AN UNSAFE ACT?

1. Briefly describe what an unsafe act is?

__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

2. Is a slippery floor an unsafe act or an unsafe condition?

Unsafe act
Unsafe condition

Tick appropriate box

3. Why are unsafe acts so hard to control?

__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

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QUESTIONNAIRE (Cont'd)

4. List three factors that can contribute to the occurrence of unsafe acts.

1.__________________________________________
2.__________________________________________
3.__________________________________________

PART 2: WHAT IS BEHAVIOURAL SAFETY?

5. Behavioural Safety is based on the theory of

Cause and Effect

Behaviour Modification
Self-Actualisation
All of the above

Tick appropriate box

6. Positive reinforcement uses feedback and discussion to establish positive

consequences for safe behaviour.

True
False

Tick appropriate box

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QUESTIONNAIRE (Cont'd)

7. Whether a person chooses to behave in a particular way or not depends on the

consequences of that behaviour.

True
False

Tick appropriate box

PART 3: WHAT IS A BEHAVIOURAL SAFETY PROGRAM?

8. A Behavioural Safety program has 5 components.

True
False

Tick appropriate box

9. What is the first step in a Behavioural Safety Observation?

Identifying a specific ‘at risk behaviour’

Informing people that their job task is going to be observed
Discussing people’s behaviour
Taking down the names of the people who are going to be observed

Tick appropriate box

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QUESTIONNAIRE (Cont'd)

10. How many steps are there in a Behavioural Safety Observation?

4
3
5

Tick appropriate box

11. What is the purpose of a Behavioural Safety Observation?

__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

12. What is the final step in a Behavioural Safety Observation?

__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

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ANSWERS

PART 1: WHAT IS AN UNSAFE ACT?

1. An unsafe act can be defined as an intentional or unintentional violation of an
established safe work practice, procedure or method.

2. A slippery floor is an unsafe condition

3. Unsafe acts are hard to control because they involve the Human Factor, that is, they
involve people’s attitudes and behaviours.

4. A number of factors can contribute to the occurrence of unsafe acts, including:

- Acts of indifference
- Lack of knowledge
- Lack of concentration
- Physical limitations of individuals performing specific job tasks
- Fatigue
- Haste
- Laziness
- Clowning around
- Loss of emotional control, and
- Altered states of consciousness resulting from medical conditions or use of drugs
and alcohol.

PART 2: WHAT IS BEHAVIOURAL SAFETY?

5. Behavioural Safety is based on the theory of Behaviour Modification.

6. True. Positive reinforcement uses feedback and discussion to establish positive

consequences for safe behaviour.

7. True. Whether a person chooses to behave in a particular way or not depends on the
consequences of that behaviour.

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ANSWERS (cont’d)

PART 3: WHAT IS A BEHAVIOURAL SAFETY PROGRAM?

8. False. A Behavioural Safety program has 3 components.

1. Identification of specific ‘at risk’ behaviour

2. The Behavioural Safety Observation
3. Feedback and Discussion

9. Identifying a specific ‘at risk behaviour’ to be observed is the first step of a

Behavioural Safety Observation.

10. A Behavioural Safety Observation has 3 steps.

11. The purpose of a Behavioural Safety Observation is to determine what is being

done safely and what is ‘at risk’ or unsafe behaviour.

12. Feedback and Discussion is the final step in a Behavioural Safety Observation.

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