A few weeks ago, I shared my thoughts on whether a business was ready for a Behavior-based Safety process (BBSP). Since then, I have been asked what some “indicators” could be that a business is “culturally ready” for a BBSP. And for me, it can all hinge on how management EMBRACES NEAR-MISS gifts.
Yes, near-misses are gifts and really sweet gifts at that. However, if management is not yet mature enough in their approach to “safety management,” they may not see near-misses as gifts.
But this is a MUST-HAVE mindset if we want to move in the right direction and consider a BBSP. By not fully appreciating the open and abundant reporting of near-misses AND taking full advantage of what they offer the business, it seems silly that somehow that same business is at a safety maturity level that they can appreciate and take full advantage of behavioral observations.
But if the facility (employees and management alike) see near-misses as gifts AND they encourage their reporting (maybe even incentivize their reporting), AND they seek to take FULL ADVANTAGE of these near-miss events by putting the resources to INVESTIGATE and LEARN from them ALL, then maybe the SMS is mature enough that a BBSP is in their future.
