The 5 Elements Of World-Class Behavior Based Safety (BBS): Part 3

ProcessMAP > Behavior Based Safety > The 5 Elements Of World-Class Behavior Based Safety (BBS): Part 3

This is the final post in a three-part series on Behavior Based Safety (BBS). In Part 1, I provided a high level overview of BBS programs and the five components that comprise a word-class program. Part 2 covers how to analyze observation data in order to identify critical at-risk behaviors, generate solutions, and change behavior.

This post will cover the “evaluate” step, discussing metrics that will help you determine if the change has been effective so that you can continually improve performance.

What is behavior-based Safety?

Behavior based Safety is the process that creates a safety partnership between management and employees that continually focuses people’s attention and actions on theirs and others daily safety behavior. BBS focuses on what people do, analyze why they do it and then research supported intervention strategies to improve what people do. In a safety management system based upon the hierarchy of hazard control BBS may be applied to internalize Hazard avoidance strategies or administrative controls, including use of personal protective equipment.

Observing, adjusting and then evaluating behaviors is critical to creating a world-class Behavior Based Safety (BBS) System. But managing the program can be difficult and up to 75% of these programs fail for a myriad of reasons:

Challenges in prioritizing what behaviors need to be modified
The culture is relunctant to change or you change has not been enacted effectively
Flaws in the program design (e.g. negative reinforcement or prizes)
Not all employees are engaged in the process
Lack of a leading indicator for the program
Complex and/or labor intensive processes

Let’s face it – collecting and analyzing data isn’t easy. In addition, calculating the actual risk associated with these behaviors can seem like a daunting task.

Here are some metrics that can help you start down the path of analyzing your data.

% of Observation Target

Set a goal to observe and provide feedback to a set number of people in your operations on a monthly or weekly basis. This goal will change based on your corporate culture and the program’s maturity. The goal is typically set at a number of unique people observed, rather than number of observations recorded.

% CAPA Closure

BBS observations should be generating Corrective and Preventative Actions (CAPAs). Just like in any other CAPA system, you should be measuring the number of created actions as well as closed actions.

% Program Participation

Participation is paramount, so you should be tracking how many trained individuals are actually conducting the number of observations requested of them. Follow up with those that are falling short of their observation goals.

% Program Awareness

This metric is a bit outside of the norm and requires some leg work, but it’s a necessity if you are to understand the overall effectiveness of your program. To track this metric count the people who know the observations you are focusing on, they should be able to name the top few.

% Safe Observations

Self-explanatory – the average percentage of safe observations for your behaviors.

Observations Performed by Title

Make sure every level of the organization is involved, from C-Suite all the way to the night cleaning crew.

These metrics are all lagging indicators. To be successful, you will need to have at least one leading indicator. Luckily, I have a trick I’ve learned over the years for creating leading indicators.

To create your leading indicator, take some or all of your lagging indicators and add them together. Next, divide this sum by the total number of unique observations performed. The resulting number will be a score showing the total percentage of observations that align with your program objectives. Watch this number – it will tell you if your program is gaining in popularity and momentum or struggling.

What metrics do you use to track your program’s progress? Leave a comment below!