Part 2 - What influences people at work

Employees are largely influenced by three aspects of their work, namely - the organisation, the job and personal factors.

These areas are directly affected by;

(a) the system of communication within the organisation; and

(b) the training systems and procedures in operation;

both of which can be used to prevent human error.

The organisation

Features of organisations which influence safety-related behaviour include:

> The need to promote a positive climate in which health and safety is seen by both management and employees as being fundamental to the organisation's day to day operations - i.e. the creation of a positive safety culture

> The need to ensure that policies and systems devised for the control of risk take proper account of human capabilities and fallibilities

> Commitment to the achievement of progressively higher standards from the very top of the organisation and cascaded downward through successive levels

> Demonstration by senior management of their active involvement, thereby galvanising managers throughout the organisation into action

> Leadership, whereby an environment is created which encourages safe behaviour

The job

Major considerations in job design include;

> Identification and comprehensive analysis of critical tasks expected of individuals and appraisal of likely errors

> Evaluation of required operator decision-making and the optimum balance between the human and automatic contributions to safety actions

> Application of ergonomic principles to the design of man-machine interfaces, including displays of plant and process information, control devices and panel layouts

> Design and presentation of procedures and operating instructions

> Organisation and control of the working environment, including workspace, access for maintenance, noise, lighting and thermal conditions

> Provision of correct tools and equipment;

> Scheduling of work patterns, including shift organisation, control of fatigue and stress, and arrangements for emergency operations

> Efficient communications, both immediate and over periods of time

Personal factors

This aspect is concerned with how personal factors such as attitude, motivation, training, human error and the perceptual, physical and mental capabilities of people can interact with health and safety issues.

Attitudes are directly connected with an individual's self-image, the influence of groups and the need to comply with group norms or standards and, to some extent, opinions, including superstitions such as "all accidents are acts of God".

Changing attitudes is difficult. They may be formed through past experience, the level of intelligence of the individual, specific motivation, financial gain and skills available to an individual. There is no doubt that management example is the strongest of all motivators to bring about attitude change.

Important factors in motivating people to work safely include joint consultation in planning the work organisation, the use of working parties or committees to define objectives, attitudes to safety currently held, the system for communication within the organisation and the quality of leadership at all levels.

Financially related motivation schemes, such as safety bonuses, do not necessarily change attitudes, with people frequently reverting to normal behaviour when the bonus scheme ends.