Behavioural safety

The TUC has issued a briefing to help union reps respond to behavioural safety initiatives in their industry.

Behavioural safety is the name given to programmes that aim to improve safety by changing the behaviour of workers, particularly in the chemicals and energy sectors.

The briefing warns that “central to all behavioural safety systems is the belief that injuries and illnesses are a result of ‘unsafe acts’ by workers. To prevent these unsafe acts management should target specific behaviours and aim to change these based on observing and monitoring workers”.

Instead, the TUC advises reps that it is not worker behaviour that should be the focus of action to improve safety but management behaviour, because management are in control of work and the workplace.

Briefing is at www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-17940-f0.cfm