title: Why BBS really works.
abstract: Behavior-based safety does work. That has been proven over and over again, thousands of times. Why it works may not have been what they told you. Yes, the soon, certain, positive consequences will have an effect (a positive effect) on some deliberate behaviors, especially behaviors relating to personal protective equipment. But behavior-based safety or an observation and feedback process does much more than just provide soon, certain, positive consequences for safe behavior. Behavior-based safety also improves habits and increases awareness (eyes and mind on task). It takes hard work and skilled observers. The process must also be well managed and promoted. As mentioned before, it is hardly "free." But the rewards for all of this training and effort are huge. Injury reductions of 60-90 percent are nothing to sneeze at. If you had any doubt or were skeptical about the theory, I hope this has helped somewhat in terms of clearing up what really works and what doesn't in a behavior-based safety process. However, one thing that is not in doubt: Observation and feedback processes do work. That is why all of the safest companies in the world use them-not because they're expensive, time consuming, and must be actively managed, and not because these companies have a lot of spare time and extra cash. No, it is because observation and feedback processes reduce injuries; not by a little, but by 60 to 90 percent.
authors.affiliation: SafeStart, USA.
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001519:Behavior; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D012309:Risk-Taking