'Go that extra mile' to improve work safety

Helen Toll, health and safety consultant for Norwich Union Risk Services (NURS), said there was "significant evidence" to show such programmes could reduce accident rates by as much as 85%, if implemented effectively.

She went on to explain that behaviour-based safety, or BBS, was particularly effective in organisations that had reached a "degree of safety culture maturity" - those with robust health and safety management systems, management commitment and significant levels of workforce participation.

"If a company has an effective strategy but perhaps health and safety performance has reached a plateau, BBS programmes, such as the one developed by NURS, are a useful, proactive tool that can enhance safety in the workplace even further," said Helen.

"The way this approach works is by focusing on the small percentage of unsafe actions that are responsible for a large part of the organisation's accidents."

Extra benefits

She explained: "A team of 'observers' from the workforce are trained to carry out regular safety observations, identifying and giving positive feedback when they see safe behaviours.

"When risky behaviours are spotted, the observers seek to understand why their colleague chose to behave in an unsafe manner and identify any potential barriers that need to be removed. Workplace improvements can then be made to create an environment that encourages workers to always choose a safe option."

Helen added that the kind of areas organisations might focus on included reporting near misses or hazards around the workplace, as well as the use of protective clothing and equipment.

Apart from cutting workplace accidents, BBS programmes could also enhance a company's image, improve staff communication and morale, boost productivity and reduce insurance premiums, she said.

"For businesses that want to go that extra mile to ensure the workplace is as safe as possible for employees, this is a useful tool, which can be very effective if carried out correctly and with buy-in from all levels."

NURS works with organisations to develop BBS programmes tailored to meet their needs through a combination of audits, focus groups, questionnaires, and structured interviews. Call 0500 55 99 77 for more information.