Each of these terms, and most of the accompanying materials, are insufficient. They are either too narrow and restricting, or too broad and nondirective.
All of these approaches are well-intentioned, and none are entirely wrong. The human dynamics of an organization include behaviors, attitudes, cognitions, and the context (or culture) in which these aspects of people occur. But some approaches are too equivocal or ambiguous to be practical, while others may be practical but are not sufficiently comprehensive.
The solution is not new
More than a decade ago, I proposed the need to address both behavior-based and person-based factors to improve workplace safety over the long term. I called this approach “people-based safety†and proposed substituting empowerment, ownership, and interpersonal trust for more traditional safety jargon like top-down control, compliance, and enforcement. My partners at Safety Performance Solutions began implementing these new people-oriented procedures in 1995 under the popular label: “behavior-based safety.â€Systematic evaluations have produced guidelines and refinements for increasing effectiveness and the long-term impact of our interventions. Today we call this approach “People-Based Safety†(PBS). It strategically integrates the best of behavior-based and person-based safety in order to enrich the culture in which people work — improving job satisfaction, work quality and production, interpersonal relationships, and occupational safety and health.
This article is the first of a five-part series in which I explain the essential principles and procedures of PBS. Here I introduce seven underlying principles of PBS.
Principle 1: Start with observable behavior
Like behavior-based safety, PBS focuses on what people do, analyzes why, and then applies a research-supported intervention strategy. The improvement results from acting people into thinking differently rather than targeting internal awareness or attitudes so as to think people into acting differently.
Unlike behavior-based safety, PBS considers that people can observe their own thoughts and attitudes. People can think themselves into safer actions, and self-management requires self-dialogue or thinking as well as self-directed behavior.
Principle 2: Look for external and internal factors to improve behavior
A behavioral analysis of work practices can pinpoint many external factors that encourage at-risk behavior and hinder safe behavior. But it’s also possible for individuals to conduct a self-evaluation of their own self-talk and selective perception regarding safety-related behavior, and choose to make appropriate adjustments. PBS teaches people how to address their internal thoughts, perceptions, and attitudes.Principle 3: Direct with activators and motivate with consequences
Activators (or signals preceding behavior) are only as powerful as the consequences supporting the behavior. Activators tell us what to do in order to receive a pleasant consequence or avoid an unpleasant consequence. This reflects the ABC model, with “A†for activator, “B†for behavior, and “C†for consequence. This principle is used to design interventions for improving behavior at individual, group, and organizational levels.Principle 4: Focus on positive consequences to motivate behavior
Control by negative consequences reduces perceptions of personal freedom and responsibility. Unfortunately, the common metric used to rank companies on their safety performance is “total recordable injury rate†(or an analogous count of losses). This puts people in a reactive mindset of “avoiding failure†rather than “achieving success.†PBS provides proactive measures employees can achieve.
We can often intervene to increase people’s perceptions that they are working to achieve success rather than working to avoid failure. Even our verbal behavior directed toward another person — genuine approval or appreciation for a task well done — can influence motivation to increase perceptions of personal freedom and empowerment. Of course, we can’t be sure our intervention will have the effect we intended unless we measure the impact. Hence, the next basic premise of PBS.
Principle 5: Apply the scientific method to improve intervention
People’s actions can be objectively observed and measured before and after an intervention process is implemented. This application of the scientific method provides critical feedback to build improvement.The acronym “DO IT†says it all: D = Define the target action to increase or decrease; O = Observe the target action during a pre-intervention baseline period to identify natural environmental and interpersonal factors influencing it (see Principle 1), and to set improvement goals; I = Intervene to change the target action in desired directions; and T = Test the impact of the intervention procedure by continuing to observe and record the target action during and after the intervention program.
The systematic evaluation of a number of DO IT processes can lead to a body of knowledge worthy of integration into a theory. This is reflected in the next principle.
Principle 6: Use theory to integrate information
After applying the DO IT process a number of times, you will see distinct consistencies. Certain intervention techniques will work better in some situations than others, by some individuals than others, or with some work practices than others. Summarize relationships between intervention impact and specific interpersonal or contextual characteristics. The outcome will be a research-based theory of what is most cost-effective under given circumstances. By doing this you use theory to integrate information gained from systematic behavioral observation.Principle 7: Consider the internal feelings & attitudes of others
Feelings and attitudes are influenced by the type of intervention procedure implemented. Such relationships require careful consideration by those who develop and deliver the intervention. This is the essence of empathic leadership taught by PBS.The rationale for using more positive than negative consequences to motivate behavior (Principle 4) is based on the different feeling states resulting from using positive versus negative consequences to motivate behavior. Likewise, the way an intervention process is introduced and delivered can increase or decrease perceptions of empowerment, build or destroy interpersonal trust, and facilitate or inhibit interdependent teamwork.
Note: For information on Dr. Geller’s new book on PBS, as well as five video/DVD programs, accompanied by workbooks and leader guides produced by Coastal Training Technologies, visit www.people-based-safety.com; email: pbs@coastal.com; (888) 201-8740.
