Behaviour Based Safety programs

1
Behaviour Based Safety programs

• a trade union perspective

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Behaviour Based Safety Programs

• According to the UKs Health and Safety
  Executive, the most common Behaviour Based Safety
  Programs
• require front line staff to carry out
  behavioural safety observations on their
  colleagues and feed the results back on a one to
  one basis.

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these programs are not new

• it is just the wrapping is different
• the basic assumption of these programs is that by
  observing individual workers, the cause of
  accidents and therefore the solution of accident
  prevention can be discovered
• these programs are not aimed at root cause
  analysis

4
our 13 reasons to oppose BBS programs

• observing does not ask the question why did s/he
  do that, like that?
• observing workers does not give any information
  about inherent dangers
• observing workers does not observe what managers
  or CEO or Board are doing

5
our 13 cont.

• observing workers does not question who makes the
  decisions
• observing workers can put worker against worker
• observing workers only looks at the end chain of
  events

6
Challenge these programs

• DuPont talks the talkbut in reality does not
  walk the walk United Steelworkers
  International Union, Sept 2005

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Some suggestions on opposing these programs

• be prepared, know what the programs are about
• ask lots of questions dont agree to anything
  that includes disciplining workers
• insist the employer consults with HS Reps
• make sure you are talking with the members, union
  delegates and union organisers
• do some of the exercises or list of questions if
  you are unsure about what you think about the
  programs or when talking with members

8
Behaviour Based Safety Programs could be
renamed Big Brother Safety