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stuart rees  
#1 Posted : 13 June 2011 12:05:25(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
stuart rees

I would like to add Human factors and human behaviour as a module to the company's HSE management system. I know it is a very deep topic and complicated.
Would members like to give their views on 'How human behaviour is inter-linked to a safety culture?'.
Information and suggestions would be appreciated on how to start this project.
PH2  
#2 Posted : 13 June 2011 14:51:35(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
PH2

Hi Stuart,
I have dealt with a few companies that introduced Behavioural Safety Programmes, usually to remedy a problem in health and safety management / increasing trend in accidents / incidents. It can and does work, but requires a genuine and sustained commitment from senior management. From personal observations, once failings in health and safety management have been restored to an "acceptable" level, the commitment from senior management tends to wane - the problem is now "solved", or so they think.

Before engaging a consultant to advise or assist with this type of programme, I would recommend that you read at least one of the following publications, so that you can gauge what you need, and what you don't.

1. IOSH - Behavioural Safety
2. HSE Publication "HSE Human Factors Briefing Note No. 1"
3. HSE publication CRR 430 - "Strategies to promote safe behaviour as part of a Health and Safety Management System"

Regards

PH2
stuart rees  
#3 Posted : 13 June 2011 19:15:02(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
stuart rees

Hi PH2
Thanks for the information, I have read the up on this topic a bit including the IOSH Behavioural Safety and the HSE RR430 but not the other one you have mentioned - HSE Human factors briefing note no.1.
Many thanks
Stuart Rees
David H  
#4 Posted : 13 June 2011 19:26:55(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
David H

Hi Stuart - a lot depends on the industry you are in.
In a previous job the human factors message was delivered by having senior management and supervisors chyanging their ways and displaying safe leadership skills and this rubbed off on the troops.
My current task in an engineering design office is all about getting the design right - looking at the ergonomics etc and actually speaking to the process guys to see what they actually need / want and looking at past mistakes and incidents.

Not a one size fits all exercise Im afraid.

David
stuart rees  
#5 Posted : 13 June 2011 19:59:26(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
stuart rees

Hi David
Thanks for the input, from what I have read on the subject and from past case histories of accidents and there are many ones to chose from, the design has been blamed a lot. Now with engineering systems getting better designs (hopefully) and the rest of what you say follows on and makes sense. Particular in that all operations are different so a bespoke behaviour program is required.
Many thanks David.
Stuart
Lojikglos  
#6 Posted : 14 June 2011 08:03:37(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Lojikglos

Stuart

Check out this website

www.help.closecallsystem.co.uk

It is a behavioural change initiative introduced by network rail and the rssb.

Might give you some ideas
stuart rees  
#7 Posted : 15 June 2011 10:27:50(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
stuart rees

Lojikglos
Thanks for the website, just been on it and it has some really useful topics.
Many thanks
Stuart
KieranD  
#8 Posted : 19 June 2011 11:58:10(UTC)
Rank: Guest
Guest

Stuart

In reply to your initial statement:

I would like to add Human factors and human behaviour as a module to the company's HSE management system. I know it is a very deep topic and complicated.
Would members like to give their views on 'How human behaviour is inter-linked to a safety culture?'.
Information and suggestions would be appreciated on how to start this project.

may I recommend that you very carefully read key research articles on the development of safety climate and safety sub-climates. Unless you appreciate the safety sub-climates for which you are responsible, you risk investing in human factors without the managerial conditions necessary for them to deliver the desired results.

There's very valuable research published on processes of safety management by first-class researchers you can apply. Using it may not be easy but is the shortest way through tough terrain.


shaibani  
#9 Posted : 19 June 2011 22:21:12(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
shaibani

Staurt :
I am not sure what type of work you have , but I am going to share with you what we had in our company which is mainly Oil and Gas producer.

We have developed a module for Behaviour Based Safety System, this module is simply a pyramid , on one side of this pyramid we have 5 parts where Accidents part is on the top , then Proprety damage , near misses , undesirable behaviors then finally root causes which is on the base. To minimise accidents or near misses we have to work on the root causes and undesirable behaviors, by increasing the safety culture and involvement of the employee. How ?

On the other side of the pyramids we have the tools which we use it for each of these parts for examples:
Root causes : we train our work force to use some tools such as Job Hazard Analysis and last minute Risk Assessment prior starting any hazard or potential task .
Undersirable behaviors: we have some tools called Behavior Observation , where an employee observes others for any incorrect behavior and this tools includes Ergonomics , Driving ,Carrying and lifting tecniques.
Near Misses : we encourage our workforce to report near misses and there is monthly rewards for the best nearmiss report.
All these tools above are Proactive tools , which we have to encourage our workforce for using them. However if Accident, incident or any damage occured , we have to use reactive tools which include incident investigation, to eventually determine the root couses of this accident then start again from the base of the Pyramide for the corrective actions.

Please should you need any more information , let me know.
stuart rees  
#10 Posted : 20 June 2011 09:02:28(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
stuart rees

KieranD
Thanks for that valuable piece of information.
I have read up on a wide area of human factors and am continuing reading up on specific topics relating to this subject.
I agree this subject needs to be tailored to the problem and managed accordingly.
It is really a specialized subject and may need expert help some where along the line.
Many thanks
Stuart
stuart rees  
#11 Posted : 20 June 2011 09:18:09(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
stuart rees

Shaibani
Hi, thank you for sharing that information with me.
I was employed in the oil and gas industry overseas until just recently, now I am getting to grips with settling back here in the UK.
We used some thing similar to what you have described, using the oil and gas producers standards (OGP) as guidelines but using our own procedures, it was Task Observation Process (TOPS) which is more behaviour based than its original format. Also using similar tools to what you have described.
I used to deliver the HSE management system training which is why I asked the question above.
Any details would be most welcome.
Thanks
Stuart
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