BBS is the application of psychological research on behaviour applied to safety in order to reduce accident and injury in the workplace. BBS has derived from behavioural learning principles conceived by behaviourists during the late 19th century and developed into an approach through integrating organisational development with quality and safety management [1].
Behavioural-based safety (BBS) initiatives have proved to be successful across a wide variety of industries, through their unique bottom-up approach to health and safety management in the workplace [1].
Behavior-based safety (BBS) can help reduce unsafe habits in mining operations by focusing on identifying and modifying behaviours that contribute to workplace accidents and injuries. In mining, where risks are high, BBS emphasizes proactive observation and feedback to encourage safe practices and discourage unsafe ones.
Keyways BBS helps in mining operations include:
Promoting awareness: BBS programs raise awareness among mining workers about their own behaviours and how these behaviours impact safety, helping individuals recognize unsafe habits that may have become routine.
Encouraging positive behavior change: by systematically observing behaviours and providing constructive feedback, BBS motivates employees to adopt safer habits, reinforcing safe actions through positive reinforcement.
Identifying root causes: BBS highlights specific unsafe behaviours rather than just focusing on outcomes, allowing mining management to address underlying behavioural issues that lead to accidents.
Increasing participation and ownership: BBS involves workers at all levels in safety processes, empowering them to take responsibility for their own safety and that of their peers, which fosters a safety-conscious culture.
Reducing human error: through continuous behavior monitoring and coaching, BBS reduces instances of errors caused by complacency or habitual unsafe behavior in the high-risk mining environment.
Sustaining long-term safety improvements: unlike relying solely on rules or controls, BBS aims to create lasting change in behavior, which can significantly lower the frequency of unsafe actions and incidents over time.
BBS can transform safety culture by making safe behavior the norm and continuously driving improvements in how workers approach their tasks safely despite the inherent hazards of mining operations. This results in a measurable decline in accidents and unsafe habits, protecting workers and enhancing operational efficiency.
Reference
[1] A. Parand and D. P. Foster, “BEHAVIOURAL-BASED SAFETY IN THE MINERALS INDUSTRY: A RESEARCH BASED METHODOLOGY CARRIED OUT IN THE UK QUARRYING SECTOR”.
