Control of Intentional Unsafe Acts / Behaviors by BBS techniques

Observed Scenario of intentional unsafe behavior

The state of safety and health reported via on-field experts and their experience has shaped up the article into a question. During road construction work of stone chip placement at Banihal, J&K located at an elevation of 1647 m, a safety violation was observed. One of the helpers standing near the excavator in action wasn’t wearing a safety helmet.

The safety officer duly noted, cautioned and informed the worker on this safety lapse, its implications and the importance of safety helmet. However, later on, the same helper was found to working without a safety helmet, showing intentional unsafe behaviour (see photographs). The worker simply had no answers for this time around.

Another Example with writer’s view

Under my collective view, such lapse in judgement and unsafe behaviour remains fairly common. Like the pump operator, who despite of repeated reminders didn’t use ear protectors or ear muffs to dampen more than 90dB of loud sound. In his plea, he argued that they do not make a difference anyways and instead pump maintenance is the right way to go, problem solved.

In my opinion, even though the operator’s view point is correct it however doesn’t substitute the need of appropriate PPEs against sound. PPEs are the first-line of defense as against identified hazards. To further assure risk mitigation, timely pump maintenance to control sound emissions should be constituted. How a BBS approach would go about accounting these points is described below:

• Establishing the use of proper PPEs for the observer (worker, in this case).
• As the safety supervisor or officer, take action against the user observation promptly, by maintenance
• Observe, demonstrate and repeat such behavioural practices to assure safety behaviour

BBS seeks to rise above any egoistic arguments that look to establish dominant position instead of fortifying safety.

Deliberations

Unintentional unsafe acts can be minimized, by various types of safety control measures like monitoring, supervising, HIRA-C, etc. In-spite of that some persons are not practicing safe acts. Our efforts will be to chalk out the procedure for identifying the specific people and the corrective measures for that kind of unsafe activity of the said group of people. There are two parts, one is psychological and other is medical point of view where reflex action is included. Our priority will be to identify the psychological factors of human being and changing them into safe behavior, justifying them with reasoning and scientific outlook.

Probable causes behind Intentional unsafe acts

• Incomplete knowledge, regarding the after effect of unsafe act.
• Over confidence
• Don’t care mentality
• Everything is known to me.
• No one can teach me
• Safety is a burden, in my work
• Following safety rule is a wastage of time
• Persons have nothing to loose

Implementing BBS Process

• Before every implementation, there should be some constructive planning, through which process of implementation may be started.
• In the Planning session, it may be decided which will be applicable at specific site, such as TBT, Safety Induction training, job specific safety training etc.
• In implementation part, in every training session certain number of observers may be selected which will depend upon number of participants, ( example: one fifth of total number of participants )
• Observer’s duty should be clearly indicated by selectors or management. Observation target is given to observer along with implementation and solution part.
• To properly identify the people, who are always adopting unsafe behaviors even after repeated cautioning. Then surveillance observation may be one option.
• During surveillance visit, if anyone is found to engage in unsafe work, he should be warned.
• After warning him, double check should be applied, with surprise visit.
• During double check process, if the person is not changing his attitude, then the consequences like punishment etc. should be directed to them.
• Behavior is always driven by attitude, but they are not interrelated.

So, our moto should be to create positive attitude to obtain safe behavior.