5 Keys to Make Behavioral Observations training.

1. Make them part of a safety conversation

Safety observations should not be the responsibility of the safety committee or another select
few who sneak in, look over shoulders, jot down notes and then leave. This promotes the
Us/Them mentality and the perception that someone is snitching on us or that, even worse, Big
Brother is watching.
When either is observed, the observer whether boss, peer or subordinate has a conversation
with the employee. This conversation is structured to recognize and lift up safe behaviors, as well
as recognizing at-risk behaviors; then the observer helps the employee to consider and choose
other ways to get the job done correctly and safely.
2. Tie safety measurement to specific behaviors
If we are going to have an Absolute Safety, 365 culture, then our systems must be geared towards
that goal. Each of the measures we use to see if we are successful must measure the way we
serve and support each other to create a culture of safety. This does not mean that we should stop
measuring costs and expenses.
It means that we unwaveringly focus on safety, and we observe, track and measure key behaviors
that determine success. Typically, behavioral observations look for specific safe or at-risk
behaviors (for example, the employee is/is not wearing appropriate PPE; is/is not performing a
lock-out/tag-out; is/is not lifting in an ergonomically correct manner; etc.),
3. Wherever possible, link safety to other initiatives
Safety does not operate in a vacuum. If Absolute Safety, 365 is not a part of day-to-day
operations and procedures, it will die (not MIGHT die, WILL die). One way to build Absolute
Safety, 365 into daily operations is to consciously make it a part of the other initiatives.
For example, one of our Tactical Tools is Plan Implementation Analysis. This is a tool to protect
something as complex as a major project or as simple as a planned change.
4. Tie safety incentives to overall organizational safety improvement
Safety incentives should be associated with the organization as a whole. Not with a person. Not
with a department. Not with an operating area. With the whole organization.
Safety is not a competition. Absolute Safety, 365 is a way of life. When safety is measured and
published by department, the focus on organizational safety is lost, and there is a de-facto
competition in place. This creates the my shop is safer than your shop mentality. What we want
is our organization is a safe place to work mentality.

5.

Make it anonymous

Although it may be tempting to track the identities of those who do/dont choose at-risk
behaviors, without anonymity employees will fail to buy into safety observations, conversations
and reporting out of fear of retribution.