Behavior Based Safety - A Way Of Life (Bbs Conference) Poem by Alok Agarwal

Introduction: What is BBS?
Wikipedia defines Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) as the 'application of science of behavior change to real world safety problems' or 'A process that creates a safety partnership between management and employees that continually focuses people's attentions and actions on theirs, and others, daily safety behavior.' At its very core BBS is based on a larger scientific field called organizational behavior management.
BBS is safety culture of the organization that is by the people, of the people and for the people. It focuses on what people do, and why they do - BBS then scientifically analyses the reason of WHY and then applies a research-supported intervention strategy to improve what people do'. Linking it to Indian mindset - it is basically a mother-child relationship between different departments and different levels of hierarchy of the organization.
Approach to BBS: How to go about it
For improving the safety culture of the organization since industrial revolution, various approaches have been tried to enhance the safety culture of the organization. These approaches had reasonable success in reducing unsafe behaviors in the workplace. Some of the approaches involve penalties; others involve surveillance; others involve guidance, codes and procedures to follow; others still are supportive and training-oriented. Some initiatives come from the employer, from the social partner organizations, from state regulatory bodies, and some worthwhile initiatives come from individual employees' own insights, ideas, training and development activities around health and safety. However, the methods being traditionally employed have had comparatively less success as the approach is mostly by FEAR.
BBS offers a paradigm shift in the existing approach to safety by being more people centric. It has been realized by the industry that almost 90% of accidents are caused due to unsafe behavior. To tackle this, a scientific approach in improving the behavior induced unsafe acts is required. BBS offers a solution to this.

BBS: Mr.360 degree
A successful BBS program includes ALL employees, from the Head Office, Regional Office, State Office, Location-in-charge, Safety officer and front line workers including daily wage, salary, union employees, contractors and sub-contractors. To achieve changes in behavior, a change in policy, procedures and/or systems is also warranted. These changes cannot be done without buy-in and support from all involved in making those decisions.
A behavior-based safety approach promotes interventions that are people-focused and often incorporate one-to-one or group observations of employees performing routine work tasks, setting goals carefully and giving timely feedback on safety-related behavior, coaching and mentoring. The initiatives have a proactive focus, encouraging individuals and their work groups to consider the potential for incident involvement, (accidents) and to assess their own behavior as safe or unsafe always, no matter what.
Technique of BBS: Positive Reinforcement
One of the techniques in BBS is ‘reinforcement'. Reinforcement occurs when a consequence that follows a behavior makes it more likely that the behavior will occur again in the future. Therefore, a reinforcing consequence is one that causes behavior to occur more frequently. For eg. To encourage safe behavior - rewards are given. This prompts good workers to not only follow safety in their lifestyle but they then become brand-ambassadors of safety. They also encourage their colleagues to follow a safer path.
BBS @ Indian Oil
In my organization (India Oil) , the existing trend in improving safety culture is typically carried out under negative reinforcement conditions (i.e. because we ‘have to') . This results in adequate performance; employees do enough to satisfy a compliance standard, but they do not go that extra mile. On changing this trend via BBS, we have introduced a culture of working under positive reinforcement. Such conditions have resulted in employees going above and beyond their job duties, and employees taking personal account for safety. If employees work under positive reinforcement conditions (i.e. because they ‘want to') , then they will be:
1) working towards something good (as opposed to avoiding a negative) ,
2) motivated to work, which might result in
3) creative thinking, employing new strategies, successful decision making, seeking more responsibility.
Research into motivation and behaviour change tells us that setting goals leads to better results and that ‘what gets measured gets done'. A person who is encouraged to get sixty letters typed in a day is far more likely to succeed than a person who is told to ‘do their best'. Likewise, if there is any room for ambiguous interpretation, it is crucial to elaborate, e.g., rather than saying ‘Overalls should be worn correctly', say, ‘Overalls should be done up to the neck with sleeves outside gauntlet gloves'. It is better to be specific than vague, to aim higher than lower and to get participation and engagement from the start. Safety should always be at the core of goal setting: saying ‘Do it by Friday but do it safely' rather than ‘Do it safely but do it by Friday' puts the emphasis on safety as the most important factor, not the deadline.
Case Study: Bikaner BP
By incorporating the tagline ‘एक सब के लिए, सब एक के लिए।‘- safety culture has penetrated among the common masses. The workers are now more inclined in complying with the safety norms. Not only this, any new worker entering the system also inculcates this safety culture and safety becomes a part of his lifestyle. During interview with people, I have found that even BBS implementers have started wearing seat belts while driving their way home. People have started wearing helmets on motor-cycles. BBS has transformed the lives among all walks of life.
Rewards at Bikaner BP
When we distribute rewards to our workers during safety week celebrations, new year celebrations, Indian Oil celebrations; we have included following lines:
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आपने सुरक्षा के नज़रिये से प्लांट मे जो अहम योगदान दिया है, उसको बहुत सराहा जाता है; और आपसे उम्मीद की जाती है कि आप ऐसे ही आगे भी योगदान देते रहेंगे।
आप सुरक्षा से संबंधित इस मूल मंत्र को याद रखें:
"रक्षा एक कि, सुरक्षा सब की"
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Such lines and such words of encouragement have had a positive effect on the psychology of the workers actually performing the task.
Overall, we have had a good experience in enhancing the safety culture of our plant. It has been learning and rewarding experience personally as well.
Bikaner BP has successfully realized the virtues of ‘एक सब के लिए, सब एक के लिए'।