BBS – Behavior Based Safety
Build Safer Habits. Strengthen Safety Culture. Prevent Incidents.
The BBS – Behavior Based Safety Course is designed to help employees, supervisors, safety professionals, managers, and safety leaders understand how human behaviour, workplace conditions, communication, and organisational culture influence safety performance.
The course focuses on observing work practices, recognising safe and at-risk behaviours, understanding the factors that influence behaviour, and encouraging positive safety actions. Through practical observation exercises, workplace scenarios, discussions, and feedback techniques, participants develop the skills needed to promote safer habits without creating a blame-oriented environment.
BBS is not about blaming individuals. It is about understanding behaviour, removing barriers, improving workplace conditions, strengthening communication, and making safe work the natural way of working.
What You’ll Learn
Understand Safety Behaviour
Learn how habits, attitudes, work conditions, procedures, supervision, and organisational factors influence workplace behaviour.
Conduct Safety Observations
Learn how to observe work practices systematically and identify opportunities for improvement.
Identify At-Risk Behaviours
Recognise behaviours that may increase exposure to workplace hazards or contribute to incidents.
Reinforce Safe Behaviour
Understand how positive recognition and feedback can encourage safer work practices.
Conduct Safety Conversations
Develop practical communication skills for discussing behaviour respectfully and constructively.
Support Behavioural Change
Learn how observation, feedback, corrective action, and follow-up can support lasting safety improvement.
Key Training Areas
Participants are introduced to:
Behavior Based Safety fundamentals
Human behaviour and workplace safety
Safety observation techniques
Safe and at-risk behaviours
Positive safety feedback
Safety conversations
Behavioural interventions
Observation checklists
Behavioural safety data
Corrective actions
Human factors
Employee involvement
Supervisor engagement
Safety culture
Peer-to-peer safety
Leading indicators
Behavioural trend analysis
Continuous improvement
The BBS Approach
Observe → Identify → Understand → Discuss → Improve → Reinforce
Participants learn a practical approach to improving workplace behaviour:
01 — OBSERVE
Watch how work is actually being performed.
02 — IDENTIFY
Recognise safe and at-risk behaviours.
03 — UNDERSTAND
Explore the factors influencing the behaviour.
04 — DISCUSS
Conduct a respectful and constructive safety conversation.
05 — IMPROVE
Agree on practical actions to remove barriers and strengthen safe work.
06 — REINFORCE
Recognise positive behaviour and encourage repetition.
07 — FOLLOW UP
Check whether improvements have been sustained.
Observe Without Blaming. Understand Before Correcting. Improve Together.
Safe Behaviour
Make Safe Actions Visible
Examples of positive behaviours include:
Correct PPE use
Following approved procedures
Using appropriate tools and equipment
Following energy-isolation requirements
Maintaining safe positioning
Using safe manual-handling techniques
Respecting barricades and exclusion zones
Following hot-work controls
Maintaining good housekeeping
Using designated walkways
Communicating hazards
Performing required inspections
Reporting unsafe conditions
Supporting coworkers in safe practices
Recognise It. Reinforce It. Repeat It.
At-Risk Behaviour
Understand Before You Correct
At-risk behaviours may include:
Bypassing safety procedures
Incorrect PPE use
Entering restricted areas
Improper use of access equipment
Unsafe lifting practices
Incorrect equipment use
Working without required isolation
Ignoring hot-work controls
Distraction during safety-critical activities
Taking unnecessary shortcuts
Poor housekeeping
Failing to communicate hazards
The Goal Is Not to Blame the Person — It Is to Understand Why the Behaviour Occurred and Make the Safe Choice Easier.
Why Do People Take Risks?
Behaviour Has Causes
Effective BBS looks beyond the behaviour itself and considers factors such as:
WORK DESIGN
Is the task unnecessarily difficult, awkward, or time-consuming?
EQUIPMENT
Is the correct equipment available, suitable, and maintained?
PROCEDURES
Are procedures practical, clear, and accessible?
TRAINING
Does the worker understand the task, hazard, and required controls?
TIME PRESSURE
Are deadlines or production demands influencing behaviour?
SUPERVISION
Is appropriate guidance and support available?
KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE
Does the person understand the potential consequences?
WORKING CONDITIONS
Are environmental or workplace conditions affecting performance?
TEAM CULTURE
What behaviours are accepted, encouraged, or normalised within the team?
Change the Conditions That Influence Behaviour — Not Just the Behaviour Itself.
Positive Safety Conversations
Talk About Safety Without Creating Defensiveness
Participants learn a practical communication sequence:
01 — START RESPECTFULLY
Approach the worker professionally and respectfully.
02 — DESCRIBE WHAT YOU OBSERVED
Focus on the specific behaviour rather than assumptions or personal judgement.
03 — ASK WHY
Understand what influenced the behaviour.
04 — DISCUSS THE RISK
Explain the potential consequence where relevant.
05 — AGREE ON A SAFER APPROACH
Identify practical improvements together.
06 — RECOGNISE POSITIVE ACTIONS
Acknowledge safe behaviour and improvement.
Observe Without Judging. Discuss Without Blaming. Improve Together.
Safety Observation
What You Observe Today Can Prevent Tomorrow’s Incident
A structured BBS observation may consider:
| Observation Area | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| PPE | Correct selection, condition, and use |
| Body Position | Safe positioning and exposure control |
| Tools & Equipment | Correct and safe use |
| Procedures | Following required work practices |
| Work at Height | Fall-prevention practices |
| Material Handling | Safe lifting and movement |
| Housekeeping | Clean and unobstructed work areas |
| Energy Isolation | Appropriate isolation practices |
| Communication | Effective coordination and hazard communication |
| Emergency Readiness | Awareness of emergency arrangements |
BBS Observation Checklist
Look. Listen. Learn.
A practical observation may include:
SAFE
What was performed correctly?
AT-RISK
What behaviour could result in harm?
WHY?
What factors influenced the behaviour?
ACTION
What can be improved?
RECOGNITION
What positive behaviour should be reinforced?
FOLLOW-UP
Has the improvement been sustained?
ABC Model of Behaviour
Understand What Happens Before and After Behaviour
Participants are introduced to the ABC model:
A — ANTECEDENT
What happened before the behaviour?
Examples include:
Instructions
Work conditions
Time pressure
Procedures
Equipment availability
Supervision
↓
B — BEHAVIOUR
What did the person actually do?
↓
C — CONSEQUENCE
What happened immediately after the behaviour?
Examples may include:
Positive feedback
Increased productivity
- Avoided delay
- Corrective intervention
Recognition
Reinforcement
Understanding the ABC Chain Helps Identify Opportunities for Positive Change.
BBS in Different Work Environments
Manufacturing
Machine operation, production activities, maintenance, material handling, and housekeeping.
Construction
Work at height, scaffolding, lifting, excavation, tools, and site movement.
Engineering & Maintenance
Isolation, machinery, electrical work, tools, equipment, and maintenance activities.
Warehousing & Logistics
Forklift operations, loading and unloading, stacking, pedestrian movement, and housekeeping.
Chemical Operations
Chemical handling, process activities, PPE, storage, and emergency response.
Hot Work
Welding, cutting, grinding, ignition control, and fire prevention.
BBS Principles Can Be Applied Wherever People, Tasks, and Hazards Interact.
BBS Data & Trend Analysis
Turn Observations Into Safety Intelligence
Observation data can help organisations identify:
Frequently observed at-risk behaviours
Repeated PPE concerns
Procedural deviations
Housekeeping issues
High-risk activities
Training requirements
Equipment or workplace barriers
Areas requiring additional supervision
Positive behavioural improvements
Recurring behavioural patterns
Use Data to Solve Problems — Not to Blame Individuals.
Leading Safety Indicators
Measure the Actions That Support Prevention
BBS programmes can support proactive indicators such as:
Safety Observations
Quality and consistency of workplace observations.
Safety Conversations
Quality of communication following observations.
Positive Recognition
Safe behaviours recognised and reinforced.
Corrective Actions
Barriers identified and addressed.
Follow-Up
Improvements checked for sustainability.
Behaviour Trends
Patterns monitored to identify improvement opportunities.
Good Indicators Help Teams See Whether Preventive Actions Are Working.
BBS Is Not About Blame
Safety Is a System — Not Just an Individual Responsibility
An effective BBS programme should avoid:
Blaming workers for every unsafe act
Using observations only for punishment
Ignoring unsafe workplace conditions
Focusing only on PPE
Treating observation numbers as the only measure of success
Encouraging workers to hide mistakes or hazards
Instead, BBS should encourage:
Open communication
Positive reinforcement
Worker involvement
Hazard reporting
Better work design
Strong supervision
Practical controls
Continuous learning
A Strong BBS Programme Looks at People, Conditions, Systems, and Culture Together.
Building a Positive Safety Culture
Culture Is Built Through Everyday Actions
01 — INVOLVE PEOPLE
Give employees a voice in safety improvement.
↓
02 — OBSERVE
Understand how work is actually performed.
↓
03 — COMMUNICATE
Create open and respectful safety conversations.
↓
04 — REMOVE BARRIERS
Fix workplace conditions that encourage unsafe behaviour.
↓
05 — RECOGNISE
Reinforce positive safety actions.
↓
06 — MEASURE
Track meaningful safety improvements.
↓
07 — LEARN
Use observations and lessons to improve the safety system.
Strong Safety Cultures Are Built Through Consistent Everyday Actions.
Learning Outcomes
After completing the course, participants will be able to:
Understand the principles of Behavior Based Safety.
Explain how behaviour and workplace conditions influence safety.
Identify safe and at-risk behaviours.
Conduct structured workplace safety observations.
Use observation checklists effectively.
Conduct constructive safety conversations.
Provide feedback without creating blame.
Identify factors that influence workplace behaviour.
Apply the basic ABC behaviour model.
Recognise barriers that contribute to unsafe behaviour.
Encourage positive safety habits.
Use observation data to identify trends.
Support proactive safety improvement.
Understand the importance of employee participation.
Strengthen positive safety communication.
Contribute to a proactive safety culture.
Who Can Attend?
This course is suitable for:
Safety Officers • HSE Professionals • Supervisors • Managers • Team Leaders • Engineers • Safety Committee Members • Workers • Contractors • Production Personnel • Maintenance Teams • HR & Training Professionals
Training Approach
Observe → Communicate → Understand → Improve → Reinforce
The course combines:
Classroom Learning
Fundamentals of behavioural safety, human factors, and safety culture.
Observation Exercises
Practical identification of safe and at-risk behaviours.
Safety Conversation Practice
Developing respectful and constructive feedback techniques.
Role-Play Scenarios
Practising real-world workplace safety conversations.
Data Exercises
Understanding behavioural trends and improvement opportunities.
Workplace Case Studies
Applying BBS principles to realistic industrial and workplace situations.
BBS Improvement Cycle
Small Behavioural Changes Can Create Meaningful Safety Improvements
01 — OBSERVE
Watch how work is performed.
↓
02 — IDENTIFY
Recognise safe and at-risk behaviours.
↓
03 — UNDERSTAND
Identify the factors influencing behaviour.
↓
04 — DISCUSS
Have a respectful safety conversation.
↓
05 — IMPROVE
Remove barriers and establish safer practices.
↓
06 — REINFORCE
Recognise positive behaviour.
↓
07 — MEASURE
Monitor trends and improvement.
↓
08 — REPEAT
Continue the cycle to strengthen safety culture.
Key Benefits
For Workers
Build stronger safety awareness and develop safer everyday work habits.
For Supervisors
Improve observation skills, safety conversations, and positive reinforcement.
For Safety Professionals
Strengthen behavioural observation, intervention, and safety-culture improvement skills.
For Managers
Improve employee engagement, safety leadership, accountability, and proactive risk management.
For Organisations
Strengthen safety communication, improve hazard reporting, encourage safer behaviours, identify workplace barriers, and support continuous safety improvement.
Why Behavior Based Safety Matters
Workplace safety is influenced not only by rules, equipment, and procedures, but also by the decisions and behaviours people demonstrate every day.
A strong BBS approach helps organisations understand why behaviours occur, identify barriers to safe work, improve workplace conditions, encourage positive habits, and create an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing hazards and improvement opportunities.
Observe the Behaviour. Understand the Reason. Improve the System. Build the Culture.
BBS – Behavior Based Safety
Safer Behaviours. Stronger Teams. Better Safety Culture.
Develop practical skills in workplace observation, behavioural analysis, safety conversations, positive feedback, trend identification, and continuous safety improvement.
