Industries concerned about bottom-line expenses tend to place behavior safety training low on the priority list. However, consider the direct costs your company paid for incidents, accidents, injuries, lost time, lost productivity, and damage to equipment or facilities during the past year. This article will outline a training program that can create significant safety advances as well as immeasurable returns on safe work practices.

Behavior safety is gaining recognition as a significant safety resource in many industrial companies. In recent discussions, however, safety professionals representing traditional and fundamental safety programs have made me aware that acceptance, understanding and the status of behavior safety are still in question. These discussions brought back early challenges, in particular the claim that behavior safety is just good common sense or another flavor of the month.

Are you easily distracted? If yes, your stress levels likely rise with these distractions and your potential human error risk increases. Sociologist William Helmreich, professor at the City University of New York, states: “The gift of intelligence is critical to survival in everyday situations.” He goes on to say, “This basic intelligence enables people quickly to size up situations, break down and analyze problems, and make good decisions.” (Sherwood, Ben. The Survivors Club. Grand Central Publishing, 2010, page 175.)

Accidents happen when we least expect them. “Why?” is usually the first question. The common follow-up analysis is, “How could I have let this happen?”