The Hazards of Behavior Based Safety Programs
What is behavior based safety?
"Behavior based safety" is a term used for programs focused on changing the behavior of workers in order to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses. By blaming workers for their injuries and illnesses, these programs rely on the belief that most workplace safety and health problems are the result of "unsafe acts." Behavior based programs target specific worker behaviors, enlist hourly employees and management in monitoring these behaviors on the shop floor and use a check-list to document workers? actions. Depending on the program, such "observations" may be followed up with positive reinforcement (complimentary evaluations, prizes, rewards) or discipline (not necessarily overt).
Related to behavior based safety are safety incentive or "safety bingo" programs that reward individual employees, entire departments and/or workplaces for lower injury and illness rates. By offering valuable prizes, these programs discourage workers from reporting injuries. In some cases, companies threaten workers with drug tests, loss of over-time opportunities and/or days off if they report job-related injuries and illnesses.
Is this something new?
Many companies are turning to behavior based safety as a way of side-stepping the safety and health risks associated with increased line speeds, work duties, mandatory overtime and other forms of work restructuring.
While it is new to some UFCW industries, behavior based safety is one of the most outdated approaches to workplace safety and health. In the 1930s, H.W. Heinrich, an insurance company executive, reviewed accident reports completed by plant supervisors. Because supervisors tend to blame workers for injuries and illnesses, their conclusions backed Heinrich?s belief that most industrial accidents are caused by "unsafe acts." Heinrich then developed a model for explaining the factors contributing to workplace accidents. First on his list were ancestry and environment? character traits that could be passed on through ones relatives or neighborhood. If someone was hurt on the job, it was because they were reckless, a trait common to their family or class background. Many of the companies selling today?s behavior based programs still promote such discriminatory assumptions.
Why are behavior based safety programs popular?
Behavior based safety programs are attractive to union and management representatives for different reasons. Often, union members and representatives are looking to energize existing safety programs and are eager for any attention from management about safety. One can not fault them for their desire to improve. Consumed with other union business, they may be unaware of the negative consequences associated with behavior based programs.
While some management representatives may share the union?s interest in improving their safety program, many recognize that behavior based safety programs shift the responsibility for a safe workplace from management to workers. They know that this shift makes their jobs easier and costs less than identifying and fixing hazards. And since behavior based safety programs are often coupled with discouraging workers from reporting injuries, they also know that they stand to be looked upon favorably by OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and to have lower workers? compensation rates (all injuries covered under workers? compensation must be reported).
Why are behavior based safety programs a threat to the UFCW?
Because they often require employees to critique each other?s work practices, behavior based safety programs generate fear and conflict amongst members. By shifting the focus away from workplace hazards, such programs leave significant safety and health problems unaddressed. UFCW members, stewards and representatives have worked hard to establish strong safety and health initiatives in all of our industries. Behavior based safety programs weaken these hard-won protections and discourage members from taking a more active role in the union.
What can we do about it?
Since behavior based safety fails to address the root causes of injuries and illnesses, it is important for union members and representatives to demand resources for safety programs targeting workplace hazards. Like other management proposals, behavior based safety is a bargaining issue. If employers want to reward workers, locals can bargain for prizes for members who make recommendations on specific ways to eliminate or control safety and health hazards. Education is key in terms of mobilizing around this issue. Along with being available for consultation, the UFCW Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Office conducts trainings on root cause analysis and incident investigation, the hazards associated with behavior based safety programs and strategies for addressing them through the union. Call us!
UFCW OSH Office 1775 K St NW, Washington DC, 20006 202-223-3111 safety@ufcw.org
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