The workplace accidents happen not only because of broken machines but it is mostly because of broken habits. Every workplace knows how true it can be. Behind every workplace accident always lies a human decision: an ignored precaution, a missed step, and a rushed task. That is where modern safety management focuses on understanding behaviour, not just enforcing the rules. This is how today’s most effective safety programs look like, which is beyond equipment and procedures; it focuses on the people and their everyday actions.
This is the major core idea of Behaviour Based safety (BBS). It is built on the simple thought but a powerful idea. It is a proactive approach to preventing accidents rather than reacting after the incident has happened just by reinforcing safe habits and addressing at-risk behaviours.
Here, in this blog, we will explore how to implement Behaviour Based Safety process in 7 steps, which is a proven method that strengthens a safety culture, builds lasting employee engagement, and reduces human error.
Understanding the Behaviour Based Safety Process
Safety isn’t just about equipment; it’s about everyday choices.
Most workplaces have the best safety tools and procedures, but accidents can happen. Still, do you think it is all because of equipment that the accidents happen? Accidents are still happening because of the people taking shortcuts or overlooking basic safety steps. That’s where Behaviour Based Safety comes in, which focuses on understanding how people work, what influences their actions, and how those actions could be improved. The foundation of BBS is a process about observing and understanding human behaviour; not to blame but to change. Doing so, they can shift from a reactive mindset to the proactive one focused on the culture, behaviour, and engagement.
In simple words, the BBS process interferes with different factors such as human behaviour, risk management, and observations to make the work place safer. It is not just a way of telling people to be safe rather than it is about understanding why people act in such a way, observing their actions, and helping them to make a safer and better choice. Moving into this blog, we’ll talk about the 7 key steps of the Behaviour-Based Safety process.
Step 1: Identify Critical Behaviours
In every workplace, at first, what comes to mind is a simple question: What behaviours keep people safe, and what kind of behaviour puts people in risk and danger? In the first step, Identify Critical behaviours, the major goal is to identify the critical behaviours that people do on an everyday basis that can prevent or cause the accident. All these activities are easy to identify like wearing PPE appropriately, using proper lifting techniques, or following lock-out/tag-out procedures. To find the false behaviour, organizations should analyze the past incidents that have happened, have a communication with the employees about the incident, and observe the high-risk jobs.
Real life example: In a manufacturing company, frequent back injuries are being reported, so that the organization decided to notice that the workers were lifting heavy metal parts without proper position. Noticing all these, the organization decided to add the usage of correct lifting technique to their inappropriate behaviour and trained employees on safe lifting practices. This changes have made a huge difference. This activity helps everyone from the organization know what exactly “working safely”means.
Step 2: Observe Workplace Behaviour
Picture yourself walking through a workplace and noticing safety in action; people wearing their gear, following proper rules, and helping each other stay alert. That’s the heart of Step 2: Observe Workplace behaviour .
Once the critical behaviours are found, the next step is to observe how people actually work. Observations plays a crucial role in the BBS process. It is about watching a real task in real time to have an understanding whether people are following proper safety practices or slipping into at-risk habits. When an organization makes the people feel that they are being supported, and not judged, this makes them to come forward to learn more.
Real life example: At a construction site, observers notice that the workers are removing helmets in the shade areas because of heat. Here, in this situation, instead of blaming the employee, it would be better if the organization comes forward to provide lighter, ventilated helmets. So that the usage of helmets would improve quickly. Just a simple and friendly observation turned into a lasting life saving safety win.
Step 3: Record and Analyze Behavioural Data
Have you ever wondered what really happens after workplace behaviours are observed? That is where Step 3 comes in, which turns all those observations into meaningful insights that prevent future accidents. Recording and analyzing the data is Step 3 that comes after the observation. All the observed behaviours should be documented based on who observed them, when, where, and under what conditions. As time goes by, you will build a dataset that has most of the frequent behaviour, which shifts or teams have more at-risk behaviour, and perhaps what triggers them. Digital applications such as analytics apps, mobile checklists, and dashboards make it easier to organize data and highlight patterns. The main reason is to ask why this behaviour happens and to understand the root cause, whether it’s poor lighting, time pressure, or unclear instructions.
Real life example: In a packaging facility, the saved data showed an unsafe behaviour happening continuously during the night shift. The team looked closer to the data and found the real issue; one work area has too dim lighting, making it hard for the worker to follow the safety steps properly. As soon as the issues were found, it was fixed, and the number of unsafe actions stopped, and everyone started to work comfortably and safely.
Step 4: Provide Constructive Feedback
Once the recording and analyzing behavioural is done, it is mandatory to provide constructive feedback. Providing feedback about giving the right input helps the workers improve their behaviour while working. Feedback should focus on the behavioural improvement and guiding the workers while things fall apart.
There are two types of feedback; they are:
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Positive reinforcement: Notice and value the safe actions. For example, “Great job using the machine guard properly just now.”
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Constructive coaching: When an risk behaviour is spotted, have an respectful conversation with the Co-Worker. For example, “I noticed that you have skipped the guard, let’s have a proper understanding of why that happened and how could we make it easier to use.”
It is essential to create a culture of peer feedback where all the employees should help each other to improve. The employees should understand that it is all about learning together, not blaming each other.
Step 5: Develop Behaviour-Based Action Plans
Once the organization has analyzed the behaviour data and secured insights from the feedback, now it’s time to enhance the behaviour. At this place, the observation and providing feedback turns into a real change. The main aim is to transform practical into plans that improve both the safety habit and the entire working environment.
Action plans can include:
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Fixing recurring issues: Address behaviours that leads to risk or the problems that keep on showing up.
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Preventing future risks: Foster safe habits before problems occurs.
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Involving employees: Involve teams to help while designing solutions.
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Management involvement: Make sure managers support and follow through the processes.
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Tracking progress: Record the action plans, Assign responsibilities to individuals, Set timelines, and Reviewing results.
Step 6: Reinforce and Recognize Safe Behaviour
To maintain safe behaviours in an organization, it is necessary to encourage the recognition. When the employees feel that they are being appreciated for working safely, those habits become a part of their everyday habit.
Recognition can be as simple as:
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Monthly “safe behaviour” awards.
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Peers appreciating each other’s safe action.
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Leader modelling safe behaviours publicly, showing commitment.
All these small genuine gestures motivate and reinforce the idea that safety matters. These behavioural norms ensure that the safety habits stay strong, and safety action continues smoothly.
Step 7: Review and Continuously Improve the BBS Process
The final step in BBS is review and continuous improvement in employee behaviour. BBS isn’t a one-time project; it needs to grow and adapt as work conditions and behaviours change.
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Strong leadership support to keep the process active.
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Regular audits to see what’s working and what needs fixing.
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Tracking key results like safe vs at-risk behaviours and incident reductions.
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Updating tools and behaviours based on new data, tasks, or challenges.
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Refreshing training and involvement so everyone stays engaged.
By reviewing and improving the process continuously, BBS becomes a natural part of the workplace culture, not just a temporary program.
Benefits of Implementing the 7-Step BBS Process
Implementing a structured seven-step behaviour-based safety program brings everyday benefits to the workplace:
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Fewer accidents and injuries because people avoid the behaviour that leads to risk or causes accidents.
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Improved employee morale and engagement because workers feel part of the safety activity and give their efforts not just as a rule follower.
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A strong safety culture, with higher awareness across teams.
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Smoother, Stronger, and more productive work, since safety habits decrease work delays and disruptions.
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Lower risk of human-error incidents, thanks to focusing on behaviour, not just equipment or PPE.
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Long-lasting safe practices, supported through consistent reinforcement and recognition.
In short, people feel safer, work flows better, and the organization grows stronger.
Conclusion
Work place safety always lies in the hands of the people and the choices they make. -Based Safety gives organizations a clear picture of practical ways to guide those choices by identifying the employees key behaviours, observing them, giving feedback, taking action, and recognizing progress.
When leaders and employees work together, safety becomes a shared responsibility, not just a set of rules. The seven-step BBS approach turns safety into an ongoing journey of learning and improvement. With consistent support and participation, safe behaviour becomes the everyday norm, and a safer workplace becomes truly achievable.
For organizations aiming to build a stronger safety culture with expert guidance, NIST stands as a trusted partner in making workplaces safer and more proactive.
Key Takeaways
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BBS focuses on improving human behaviour, not just enforcing rules.
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The BBS process follows 7 clear steps that guide organizations toward safer habits.
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Observation and supportive feedback are the heart of behaviour change.
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Both employees and leaders must actively participate for BBS to work.
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A well-implemented BBS program leads to fewer incidents and a stronger safety culture.
FAQs on Behaviour – Based Safety (BBS)
- What is the Behaviour Based Safety (BBS) process?
Behaviour Based Safety (BBS) process is a safety approach that focuses on observing developing employee behaviour to prevent accidents.
2. Why is BBS important in preventing workplace incidents?
BBS is important in many ways because accidents happen due to unsafe behaviour. BBS helps to reduce the risks by developing safer habits.
3. What are the 7 steps in the BBS process?
The major 7 steps are Identifying behaviour → Observing behaviour → Recording data → Analyze → Giving appropriate feedback → Take action → Reinforce and improve.
4. Who should conduct behaviour observations?
Behaviour observation should be done by Trained Staff, Supervisors, and the trained peers who can observe correctly and respectfully.
5. How often should observations and reviews be carried out?
Observations and reviews should be carried out regularly, shortly, and consistently to work best.
6. How does feedback improve safe workplace practices?
Quick, and particular feedback motivates the individual not to repeat unsafe behaviour and correct unsafe actions before they lead to accidents.
7. What tools help in recording and analyzing behavioural data?
The tools that help to record and analyze the behavioural data are checklists, mobile apps, dashboards, spreadsheets, and analytical tools that help identify trends and causes.
8. What challenges occur during BBS implementation?
Employee resistance, observer bias, lack of consistency, and difficulty keeping the program active over time are the challenges that occur during the BBS implementation.
9. How can management reinforce employee participation in BBS?
By modelling safe behaviour, participating in observations, recognizing employees, ensuring follow-up, and making BBS part of the safety strategy, the management can reinforce employee participation in BBS.
10. What are the key outcomes of a successful BBS program?
The major key outcomes of a successful BBS program are fewer incidents, better safety culture, higher engagement, and long-term safe behaviour.