Recording and Analyzing Job Briefings Can Save Lives
Planning saves lives. Whether you call it a job briefing or a tailboard, taking time before work begins to identify potential hazards, discuss elimination and mitigation strategies, and align the crew reduces the risk of incidents – and it’s an OSHA requirement per 29 CFR 1910.269(c). Studies consistently show that effective planning can prevent up to 70% of workplace accidents.
But not all job briefings are created equal. Research based on 850,000 recorded safety conversations has revealed that many of these conversations fall short of their potential. The average score of these recorded conversations is 18.8 out of 35, with key areas like planning (2.61/5) and question quality (1.88/5) leaving much to be desired.
The good news is that recording and analyzing job briefings – which can be achieved through various means, including the use of software and artificial intelligence – enables employers to measure those conversations so employees can be coached to make them more impactful, ideally resulting in fewer incidents, more engaged crews and a safer work environment.
Safety Conversations Matter
You’ve likely been there: The job briefing form gets pencil-whipped, a hazard goes unaddressed, and the crew moves on. On the surface, everything may seem fine – until an incident occurs.
This is precisely why it’s critical to both record job briefings and measure their conversation quality. Among other things, analysis of those 850,000 safety conversations indicated (1) that the average participant engagement score was only 2.46 out of 5 and (2) that secondary speakers contributed just 0.53 turns per conversation. In other words, most conversations are dominated by one person, leaving valuable voices unheard.
Research conducted by Alex Pentland, Ph.D., at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology concluded that members of high-performing teams exhibit equal participation during discussions. That’s because diverse perspectives more effectively uncover blind spots, identify overlooked hazards and drive better outcomes.
Given the above, it may not surprise you to learn that most leaders aren’t natural communicators; they learn through feedback and practice. Recorded conversations provide the “game tape” that leaders need to sharpen their skills.
Recognize and Celebrate Success
Here’s something else to keep in mind: Crews are more likely to stay engaged and strive for improvement when they know their efforts are being noticed and positively reinforced by management.
For instance, one company that records and analyzes safety conversations began presenting a Golden Hard Hat award to employees for the best one each month. Here’s an example of an award-winning discussion: “One foreman started his safety talk by lying next to a hole, humorously pointing out the hazard. It was creative, engaging and educational, and it inspired others to take their conversations to the next level.”
Recognition can also help organizations build momentum. According to TDIndustries’ Jamie Dabbs, celebrating wins has helped to foster a culture of accountability within the organization. “We’ve been able to celebrate standout talks and proactively address issues identified in the field,” he said. “It’s created a safer and more cohesive work environment.”
Measure Progress and Drive Change
The ability to track and measure progress is one of the greatest benefits of recording and analyzing job briefings. As Dabbs noted, data-driven insights allow organizations to proactively identify patterns and address problems: “The data showed us trends we wouldn’t have seen otherwise, from equipment issues to gaps in communication. That let us take action and improve safety before incidents happened.”
Conclusion
Now it’s time to ask yourself, are the job briefings conducted at your company’s worksites making a positive impact – or have they become just another box to check?
Remember, recording safety conversations gives you the power to measure them, coach employees, celebrate wins and ultimately develop a safer working environment in which every voice matters. Why not start today? It’s a small step that could make a world of difference.
About the Author: Barry Nelson is the founder and CEO of FactorLab (https://factorlab.com), provider of SmartTagIt, an AI risk intelligence platform for reducing risks to safety and operations performance. With decades of experience at the intersection of incident prevention and technology, his groundbreaking research has been published in peer-reviewed journals. Nelson and his team of data scientists and engineers have helped companies use emerging technologies, organizational science and machine learning to significantly reduce workplace accidents and injuries.