SAFE BEHAVIOUR

Safety used to be regarded as meaning the absence of danger or hazards. That definition is very
difficult to sustain in our world today. It is more proper to say that safety is not the absence of
danger but the presence of cautionary measures to prevent the outcome of whatever danger or
hazards we face.

Safety is made of attitude, behaviour, and control. It is essential that attitudes, behaviours, and
control measures are taken into consideration in order for safety to be achieved. This is because
attitudes, behaviours, and control measures are all critical elements of a successful safety program.
All three elements must be addressed in order to create an effective safety program. Safety is a
combination of proactive and reactive measures. Proactive measures involve changing attitudes and
behaviours, as well as implementing control measures that reduce the likelihood of an accident
occurring. Reactive measures involve responding quickly and effectively to any accidents that do
occur. Both proactive and reactive measures are necessary for true safety to be achieved.

Attitude
Attitudes influence how employees view safety, their level of engagement with it, and their
willingness to follow procedures. Attitude means your frame of mind and the way in which you
approach a given situation. It describes your mindset and the thought process. How you react in
your mind to situations. When it comes to safety, attitude is not exactly everything, but it is very
close. A safe attitude means staying alert and focused on the job at hand. It means taking safety
guidelines and practices seriously, never horsing around on the job, and not letting emotions like
anger and frustration get in the way of job performance.

Behaviour
Behaviours are the actual actions taken by employees to ensure safety. Behaviour means what you
do about it and how you react to a situation. It explains the actions you take when faced with
situations regarding your safety and your compliance to instructions with regards to safety. How you
react to a situation is an important part of being safe. Following established safety guidelines and
procedures, refusing to take “shortcuts”, using personal protective equipment, asking questions
when you need more information and the task at hand are all safe behaviours. Safe behaviour also
means helping friends, co-workers, and family members understand the importance of safe practices
at work, at home or play.

Control
Control measures are the systems and processes in place to protect employees from harm. Control
refers to making your surroundings, where and what you do. Or in order words putting in place
measures to ensure your safety especially in locations and situations where you have little or no
control. Control means taking responsibility for making your worksite, home, or recreational facility
a safe place. You can help keep your surroundings safe from potential hazards by keeping them
clean and orderly. Keep machines in good condition, clean up spills and debris (or report them to
the appropriate person), and make sure that walkways are free from obstacles. Store chemicals
properly (both at home and on the job) and never switch containers. At work, be sure to report
faulty equipment ventilation, or any potential hazards to your supervisor.

Safe attitude, behaviour, and control add up to a safer and more productive you.

Safe behaviour describes the actions we take with regard to ensuring our safety and that of others.
We must acknowledge the fact that our actions can contribute either positively and negatively to our
safety and that of others. Most instances accidents and other safety incidents are because of errors
made by us due to the combination of the three aforementioned components of safety. As is said to
err is human. The errors we make define our safe behaviour. Previous studies have reported that
human errors are a factor in more than 80% of accidents. Human error has been reported as being
responsible for 60%‐80% of failures, accidents, and incidents.

Within the errors, we can then break this into four additional categories.

1. Slip in judgment. A slip in judgment is when someone does something that is unsafe but does
not know. It can be caused by a lack of knowledge, experience, or attention, or by an unexpected
change in a situation. Examples like leaving an engine running while refuelling, using electrical
equipment without earthing protection. Slips in judgment often lead to accidents and injuries, as
people are unprepared to handle the situation, they are in.

2. Momentary Lapses of memory. Lapses in memory are common reasons for unsafe practices.
Additionally, these lapses can have serious and dangerous consequences for those involved. An
example is driving without using seatbelts when in a hurry or state of emergency. These lapses can
be caused by fatigue, stress, emotional distress, or distraction. Fatigue has been cited as a factor in
some of the biggest workplace accidents in history, including the 2005 BP Texas City oil refinery
explosion and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. When these conditions are present, it can be
difficult for a person to recall the proper safety protocols and procedures, resulting in unsafe
practices and potential danger. Fatigue can cause about 13% of workplace accidents and injuries
each year.

3. Rule-based mistakes. This is where incorrect application or compliance to certain instructions

or policies and rules bring about unsafe behaviour. In other cases, it the rules themselves when
complied with could result in unsafe actions. For example, a rule-based mistake might be a worker
who is required to work with an unsafe piece of equipment in order to meet production quotas. This
because the policy focuses on the quantity of products manufactured. There was an instance where
an organisation established a policy with the intent of curbing excess fuel consumption. So, a
stipulated amount of fuel was provided for a fixed period each equipment being operated. This
resulted in frequent vehicle breakdowns, equipment malfunctions and the like. This can result in
issues such as incorrect procedures, and lack of compliance with safety protocols. Rule-based
mistakes, while not as common as knoledge-based errors, still happen frequently. These rules are
usually formulated or developed without safety being taken into consideration. An example is when
the procedure for using the fire extinguisher is applied wrongly. The normal steps are to pull out the
pin, aim the nozzle at the base of fire to be extinguished, squeeze the handles together and sweep
using the spray from the extinguisher. Applying these steps wrongly would not yield the expected
results. The error rate when working in rule-based mode is 1 in 100. Despite the intention of these
actions, they do not achieve their intended outcomes due to the incorrect application of a policy or
the inadequate nature of the plan.

4. Knowledge-based mistakes: These errors arise from either improper training or inadequate
information about safety measures in place. Improper training or inadequate information can lead to
costly mistakes that can cause serious injury or even death. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that
employees are well-trained and fully informed of the safety procedures in place. These are actions
that are intended but do not achieve the intended outcome due to knowledge deficits. Employers
must take responsibility for providing comprehensive training and ensuring their employees are
aware of all safety protocols and regulations. They should also enforce regular safety checks and
inspections to ensure the safety of their employees.

These errors are what give rise to violations and non-compliance. Because errors can lead to
incorrect decisions, incorrect entries, and incorrect processes, it is easy for mistakes to happen.
These mistakes can result in a violation of laws or regulations, resulting in non-compliance.
Violations and non-compliances can lead to penalties and fines, which can be damaging to a
business or organization. It is important to take the necessary steps to prevent errors and ensure that
compliance is maintained. Violations are categorised as following.

1. Routine violations. Routine violation occurs when breaking a safety rule or procedure is the
normal way of working. It becomes routine not to use the recommended procedures for
tasks.
2. Situational violations. Situational violations are the result of organisational and
environmental factors that make it difficult for employees not to commit violations. These
factors include time pressure, lack of supervision, poor ambient conditions (e.g., light, noise,
heat), insufficient resources, and a negative culture.
3. Exceptional violations. Exceptional Violations are rare occurrences that take place in very
unusual circumstances (e.g., emergencies, equipment failure). They can be the result of a
conscious decision to violate or an instinctive reaction to the situation.

All these errors are the major sources of tragedies that occur daily. Grievous incidents occur without
considering the sources of error. The consequences of any error usually affect more than the people
who caused it.

Foundations
To build a safety behaviour and hence culture in your organisation, the following pillars are
necessary to erect. They are to prepare, prevent, protect, and respond. These pillars will create a
system of checks and balances which will help to ensure that all safety requirements are adhered to.
This will in turn create a culture of safety throughout the organisation and foster a safe and secure
working environment.

Prepare
Safe behaviour requires preparation by providing and ensuring a safe work environment, approved
safety equipment, and effective training. Regular audits of existing processes and activities are
mandatory. To be properly prepared, first observe and understand workplace processes, the duration
of hazard exposures, and the processes where risk could be reduced through engineering or
administrative controls. Develop and implement good safety practices and provide regular feedback
on how well they are followed. Monitor and evaluate the workplace to identify any potential hazards
and take steps to reduce them. Finally, ensure that the safety protocols are regularly reviewed and
updated.

Effective auditing takes time, resources, and a comprehensive system. Implement an effective
auditing system to monitor and assess safety protocols. Make sure to provide proper training to
ensure employees understand the safety protocols. Invest in the right tools and technology to help
with the process. Recent innovations in safety audit software allow for more frequent, uniform, and
comprehensive auditing. Developing an effective auditing system is like baking a cake - you need the
right ingredients, tools, and instructions. Without all the components, you won't have a successful
outcome. A review of recent incidents can also be used to identify training gaps. Maintain clear
communication between supervisors and employees. Provide feedback and follow-up to ensure
employees are following the protocols. Regularly review and update safety protocols to keep up with
changes in the workplace. Effective training is another area that requires resources, expertise, and
management support.

Prevent
After following the preparing pillar philosophy and conducting hazard assessments, audits, and
training, you may have uncovered some cracks in your safety foundation. It is important to address
these issues to maintain a safe work environment. Take the time to fill in the gaps and strengthen
the existing safety processes. This will help ensure that your workplace is safe and compliant with
regulations. Preventive measures can help you fill some of those gaps and may include
improvements to signage, storage cabinets, work area organization and ergonomics, cleaning
materials, or waste disposal. Taking the time to properly address safety issues not only ensures
compliance but also prevents any potential hazards from occurring in the first place. Investing in
preventative measures such as improved signage, storage cabinets, work area organization,
ergonomics, cleaning materials, and waste disposal can help maintain a safe and productive work
environment. It’s critical to choose the highest level of protection when determining the most
appropriate preventative equipment or solutions for your organization. Additionally, it's important
to create an environment where employees are aware of safety protocols and can easily access the
necessary protective gear. Regular training and safety drills can help ensure safety protocols are
followed. Finally, a system of regular inspections and audits should be implemented to ensure safety
standards are met. Appropriate consequences for violating safety protocols should be established
and communicated to employees. Additionally, managers should be held accountable for ensuring
safety guidelines are followed.

Protect
With the prepare and prevent pillars clearly established, it’s time to face the challenges of the all-
important protect pillar. Protection is all about establishing measures and controls that would
protect employees from the hazards and outcomes of the gaps identified in the audits carried out.
This means developing and implementing safety policies, providing safety training, and equipping
workers with protective gear and other safety equipment. In addition, employers should conduct
regular audits and inspections to ensure that their safety measures are up-to-date and effective.
These could include physical, administrative, and engineering controls that address the identified
risks. It is important to ensure that the protective measures are appropriate, effective, and tailored to
the organization's needs. Regular monitoring and review should be done to ensure the efficiency of
the protective measures. The protective measures should be tailored to the organization's specific
risk profile and should be based on a thorough understanding of the organization's work places and
processes. The protective measures should be regularly evaluated to ensure they are still effective
and that they are being implemented properly. Additionally, training should be provided to all staff
to ensure they understand the protective measures in place and how to effectively use them.

Respond
There is a need to have recovery measures in place. this would ensure that negative outcomes of
safety incidents are minimised or possibly eliminated. Recovery measures are necessary because they
help to reduce the impact of safety incidents, such as reducing the severity of injuries, preventing
property damage, and reducing the amount of lost time due to the incident. Additionally, having
recovery measures in place can help to protect the reputation of the company or organisation and
help to maintain a safe working environment. even the best intentions and thorough planning will
not always prevent hazards that need to be mitigated quickly and properly, like an injury, acute
medical condition (e.g. a heart attack), or a hazardous material spill. Therefore, taking swift and
appropriate action to address potential threats is essential to ensure the safety of all concerned. It is
important to have emergency protocols in place to handle these types of situations. All staff should
be adequately trained on how to respond to emergency situations. Regular drills should also be done
to ensure that everyone is prepared for any potential emergency. Response products identified
during the prepare, prevent, and protect steps include AEDs, first-aid kits, spill-control materials,
fire blankets and extinguishers, and eyewash stations or emergency showers. Keep response
equipment properly stored and maintained, and train personnel to be ready to use them as needed.

Conclusion
Safe behaviour is a necessity in many areas of life, such as at home and in the workplace. It's very
helpful to be aware of what's safe and what's not safe so that you can remain safe. Safety is a daily
practice that should be addressed in all aspects of life. Safety is more than just following your
company’s guidelines or what HSE says while you work. It is important to remember to always be
aware of the safety risks in the workplace and to take steps to reduce those risks. Employees should
also be encouraged to speak up if they notice any potential safety hazards. Finally, it is important to
have a safety-first mindset and to always prioritize safety over other considerations. This means that
safety should be seen as an integral part of your job, not just a set of rules or procedures to follow. It
is important to take responsibility for your safety, as well as the safety of your colleagues and the
environment. Taking safety seriously is essential in order to protect everyone and everything.

Creating a safety culture starts with strong leadership, setting and enforcing standards, and providing
proper training and resources. It also involves the active engagement of all employees in the safety
process. Finally, it requires regular review and assessment of safety policies and procedures.