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The ABCs: Critical Success Factors

Behavior Safety Now - 2005

Wanda Myers

Quality Safety EdgeBeaumont, Texas

409-866-6900wanda@qualitysafetyedge.com

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Goal

To enhance your skills and knowledge so that you can better model and support your behavior-based safety process

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Causes of Accidents

Conditions4%

Behavior76%

Conditions & Behavior

20%

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BASIC ABC MODEL

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Consequences

Consequences

Reinforcement

Increases Behavior

Decreases Behavior

Punishment

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The Problem

Serious incidents are low probability eventsShort cuts are often

– Faster– Easier– Allow us to be more comfortable

Natural consequences are not sufficient!

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ABC’s of SAFETY

Antecedents Behavior Consequences

Hard to hearUncomfortable

Wears ear plugsPolicySigns

Hear wellComfortable

Works without ear plugs

PolicySigns

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Key Concept

Behavior based safety is a process that:– Increases social consequences supporting safety– Helps identify antecedent conditions that need

attention

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Basic Elements

Observations & feedback on critical behaviorsSafety meeting data review & action planningSteering Committee review & action planningRecognition & celebrations

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Key Features

No namesNo punitive disciplineVoluntaryFeedback is immediateFocused on positivesRequires 15-20 minutes

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BASIC ABC MODEL

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What Is Behavior?

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Examples of Behavior

Crew writes a job planUtility worker turns off propane before leaving forkliftMachinist stops lathe to clear shavingsElectrician strips wires with scissor blade

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ACTIVITY: Behavior or Label?

___ Tightening a nut

___ Helping out

___ Asking someone to fill a container

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AggressiveAngryBad AttitudeDangerousSafe

Labels

Filling out a checklistProper lifting

(legs bent, back straight)Using proper toolsWearing safety glassesWearing harness above

four feet

Behaviors

Area marked off with safety tape

Electrical wires laying across walkway

Lock-out tags in placeRate of OSHA recordable

accidents

Results

Labels vs. Behaviors & Results

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Pinpointing is...

The process of defining behavior (or the results of behavior) in terms that describe an easily observable activity.A skill that is learned - used in speaking and observingPinpointing is simply describing behavior, without the use of:

» Assumptions» Labels» Interpretations» Value Judgments

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Why Pinpoint?

Clarifies the situation Improves communicationSuggests solutionsFacilitates feedback

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Pinpointing Criteria

Criteria for a good pinpoint:

Can two people agree on it?

If you have to ask,"What do you mean by that?",

you don't yet have a good pinpoint.

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Pinpointing - Exercise

Sit and ponder

Complete pinpointing exercise worksheet

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Describe the behavior, action, or result, not the person– Provide example appropriate to client

Describe potential impact of behavior – Continue the example

Listen to their response

Giving feedback on concerns– Ask, “How could the risk be reduced? Offer a

suggestion or request.– Continue example

Basic Feedback Model

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Reinforce Safe Practices

Emphasize the positive:– “Here are some things I really liked...”

- or -– “Here are some ways that you are minimizing

your risk of injury...”- or -

– “Some practices that I thought contributed to your safety are...”

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Feedback is the Key

Ensure that feedback on safe practices is:– Personal– Meaningful– Immediate– Frequent

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Discussing Concerns

Be clear about areas that are a concern for their safety:

– “Here are some things I am concerned about...”- or -

– “How about ...?”- or -

– “What could ...? / How could ...?”

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RECEIVING FEEDBACK

Express appreciationGet specificsProvide feedback to observer

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ABC Analysis Objectives

To be able to analyze why people engage in one behavior over another.To be able to use the analysis to build an

improvement strategy for the critical behaviors which drive the desired results

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ABC ModelWhy People Do What They Do

Consequences for current or past behavior have the strongest influence on our future behavior

Antecedents

anything that prompts people to act in a given manner

Behavior

what we do, how we act, what we accomplish

Consequences

what happens to us during and after the the behavior (payoff/punishment)

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Safety Antecedents

Safety meetingsVerbal and written safety instructionsTrainingPlant and company’s safety cultureJob Safety AnalysisSigns and slogans promoting safety

Prompt or Trigger Behavior

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Impact of Antecedents

Communicate informationHave only a short-term effect used aloneWhen ineffective, we increase the intensityOften overused to influence performance

RetrainRetellRestateRemind

Human Re-Work

Antecedent Identification Exercise

1. Put your foot on the brakes in your car

2. Put on hearing protection

3. Working late

4. Stop and watch someone work (checking for safe behavior)

5. Look up

a.

b.

a.

b.

a.

b.

a.

b.

a.

b.

Antecedent Behavior

Effective Antecedent Exercise

1. Advice from friend on how to raise your child

2. Red light at busy intersection

3. MBOs (ten months before your annual review)

4. Suggestion program

5. Phone call from your boss who is angry about an immediate problem

6. Safety rules posted on the wall

7. No parking sign

8. A second notice on your electricity bill

9. Instructions on fixing copy machine

10. Your boss’ speech on need for team work

Rate the items below according to how seriously you take them. 1 is most serious and 10 is least serious.

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Effective Antecedents

1. Communicate specific behaviors and results

2. Are paired with consequences

3. Occur just prior to desired behavior

Effective antecedents accurately predict what will happen to a person.

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Consequences

Consequences occur during and after Behavior

You do not choose to apply consequences, yetyou do choose to apply them with precision

Consequences either

strengthen the behavior

or

weaken the behavior

Consequences Identification ExerciseBehavior Consequence

a.

b.

a.

b.

a.

b.

a.

b.

a.

b.

1. Put your foot on the brakes in your car

2. Put on hearing protection

3. Working late

4. Stop and watch someone work (checking for safe behavior)

5. Look up

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PICs and NICs

• TYPE:– Positive to the performer– Negative to the performer

• WHEN:

– Immediate or soon after the behavior occurs

– Future…from one day to several months

• PROBABILITY:

– Certain that the consequence will occur

– Uncertain that the consequence will occur

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The Safety Dilemma

Many safe acts are punishing

Many unsafe acts areinherently reinforcing

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• Overloaded with work

• In a hurry• Thinks it just

a short job

• Working on equipment without locking out

ABC Analysis Performer: MaintenanceAntecedents Undesired Behavior Consequences P/N I/F C/U

P I CP I CP I CP F C

• Saves time

• Could be injured or killed

• Increases production

• Avoid walking a distance

• Gets to coffee break on time

N I U

Many Unsafe Acts Are Inherently Reinforcing

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• Boss requested it

• Desire to do a good job

• Staying after work to communicate a change at shift turnover

ABC Analysis Performer: ForemanAntecedents Desired Behavior Consequences P/N I/F C/U

• Miss ride home

• Might get into an argument over change

• Staying late effort ignored by organization

• Late picking up kids

• Might prevent an accident

N

NN

NP

I

IF

IF

U

CC

CU

Many safe acts are inherently punishing

ABC ANALYSISPerformer(s)

P/N I/F C/UUndesired Or Unsafe Behavior:

Analysis Done By

Antecedents *Consequences

What prompted, cued or triggered the behavior?

What happens to the performer, or what do they experience when they

perform this behavior?

*Remember the consequences are from the performer’s point of view

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ABC Summary

Value:

• Eliminates blaming• Encourages problem-solving

• Allows analysis of unsafe actions from the viewpoint of the performer