Unsafe, At-Risk, Safe Behaviors: Know the Difference
Shawn M. Galloway
CEO of ProAct Safety, Inc., Trusted Advisor, Best-Selling Author, Keynote Speaker & Expert Witness
The term "behavior" often has a negative connotation because of how it is used in discussions focused on performance and results. Imagine your significant other stating, "I want to talk to you about your behavior last night." You wouldn't anticipate a positive conversation. Behavior simply means an observable act. It is demonstrated in the words you use and how you use them, your body language (such as facial and hand expressions) and work product.
When it comes to incident- and injury-prevention efforts and the role behaviors play, there are two desirable types of behaviors: those that are mandatory and those that are discretionary. Rules, policies and procedures are tools designed to address and control mandatory behaviors. Other tools like behavior-based safety are put in place to address and influence discretionary injury-prevention behaviors. Controlling and influencing tools should not overlap, as the value they contribute is different and mixing them creates compliance and cultural problems.
Further, there are observable behaviors that prompt others to express concern, intervene or provide positive feedback. These behaviors fall into three categories: unsafe behaviors, at-risk behaviors and safe behaviors.
Unsafe Behaviors - These are dangerous acts that often result in injuries and can be identified with common sense and experience. When actions are highly probable to result in a negative outcome (i.e., injury) with high severity potential, we view these as unsafe. Think of driving at a high rate of speed while taking your eyes off the road for 30 seconds. It would be hard to argue the likelihood is extremely high this behavior will result in an injury. This behavior should be stopped...
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Shawn M. Galloway is the President and COO of ProAct Safety. He writes (and tweets:@safetyculture) about his consulting work leading organizations across all major industries to achieve and sustain excellence in their performance and culture. His articles, books, blog, podcasts and videos can be accessed here: https://proactsafety.com/insights
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Scaffold Carpenter/Rigging at Department of Energy, Savannah River Mission Completion
4 年Deep down everyone knows right from wrong and safe or unsafe situations. It's just picking the right path.
Owner at SAFEHOP, LLC
4 年Choice is important in this. We can choose to be safe or to place our safety at risk. Being in a safe state typically means we are following procedures, rules, training, or we may be in a safe state because of past learning.?We exit the safe state when we make a decision that goes against the expected mode of performance. This need not be with malicious intent, in fact it can be with the best of intentions. However, we are never the less entering into the world of At-Risk behavior. Even then there are barriers to help try to return us to a safe state. These include self-talk, visual cues & warnings, barricades, Observers or co-workers, & other indications.?Unsafe behavior is committed when we step beyond a final barrier & the at-risk behavior becomes an irrecoverable act. It is likely that this is done with intent or with at least the knowledge that “I know better.”?At each point there is a line of learning: Safe Behavior Line of Learning: I am injury free, working without incident.?At Risk Line of Learning: experience apprehension, maybe some near-hits, minor injuries.?Line of Learning for Unsafe Acts: A life learning event, a moderate to severe injury, discipline, or loss of employment or something of value. Enjoyed the article!