Behaviour-Based Safety (BBS) – A Simple Guide to Run It

Behaviour-based safety is a proactive approach to workplace health and safety that focuses on improving both employee behaviours and the conditions in which they work.

Instead of relying only on rules or equipment, it combines observation, feedback and hazard reduction to create a culture where safe actions and a safe environment go hand in hand.

This guide explains what behaviour-based safety is, why it matters, and how to put it into practice effectively in your organisation.

What is Behaviour-Based Safety?

Behaviour-based safety (BBS) is a structured approach to preventing workplace incidents by focusing on the way people work and the conditions they work in. It goes beyond simple compliance or rule enforcement; instead, it uses observation, feedback, and hazard control to identify both unsafe behaviours and unsafe environments before they cause harm.

At its core, a BBS program involves trained observers watching routine tasks, noting safe and at-risk actions, and discussing them with workers in a positive, non-punitive way.

At the same time, these observations help uncover underlying hazards such as poor layout, inadequate lighting, or missing equipment that make safe behaviour harder to achieve.

By combining employee engagement with improvements to physical conditions, organisations create a proactive safety culture where:

Safe practices are clearly defined and reinforced.
Environmental hazards are identified and addressed promptly.
Everyone feels responsible for safety, not just management.

This dual focus on behaviour and environment makes behaviour-based safety one of the most effective ways to reduce incidents, improve morale, and sustain long-term safety performance.

What Behaviour-Based Safety Is — and What It Is Not

Behaviour-based safety (BBS) is a structured approach to improving safety by observing everyday work practices, giving constructive feedback, and identifying hazards in the environment.

It is a way to understand and influence why people act the way they do and how the workplace supports or hinders safe behaviour

At its best, BBS blends with existing safety systems to reinforce training, procedures and engineering controls.

BBS is not a replacement for other safety measures, a “spy program” to catch mistakes, or a shortcut around fixing unsafe conditions.

It does not blame employees for incidents or ignore the employer’s responsibility to provide a safe workplace.

Instead, it complements hazard elimination, equipment maintenance and compliance audits by focusing on the human and environmental factors that those systems sometimes miss.

Why Implement Behaviour-Based Safety?

Introducing a behaviour-based safety (BBS) program delivers clear benefits for both employees and the organisation when it targets behaviours and workplace conditions together.

Instead of reacting after incidents occur, BBS helps organisations proactively shape safer habits and safer environments.

Key Benefits

Fewer Incidents and Injuries
By observing everyday tasks and addressing both risky actions and hazardous conditions, organisations can prevent accidents before they happen.
Stronger Safety Culture
BBS makes safety a shared responsibility. Employees at all levels become more aware of how their actions and surroundings influence safety, which builds trust and accountability.
Higher Employee Engagement
Involving staff in observations and feedback sessions gives them ownership of safety, making it more likely that safe behaviours and hazard reporting will stick.
Improved Compliance and Cost Savings
Fewer incidents mean less downtime and lower insurance or compensation costs. A proactive program also demonstrates that the company goes beyond basic compliance requirements.

The Balanced Approach

Behaviour-based safety works best when it isn’t just about coaching individuals but also about removing environmental barriers to safe work. A balanced approach ensures that safe behaviours are reinforced, hazards are eliminated, and everyone feels supported in working safely.

Core Elements of an Effective Behaviour-Based Safety Program

A successful behaviour-based safety (BBS) program rests on several core elements that together influence both how people act and the conditions they work in. Focusing on these foundations makes the program easier to implement and more likely to produce lasting results.

The elements are:

Leadership Commitment to People and Conditions
Management must show visible support for BBS by setting clear goals, allocating resources, and participating in observations or feedback sessions. This demonstrates that safety is a core value, not just a compliance requirement.

Employee Involvement and Ownership
Frontline employees know the real hazards best. Involving them in developing checklists, observing tasks, and suggesting improvements creates buy-in and ensures the program reflects actual working conditions.

Defining Safe Behaviours and Workplace Checks
Identify specific safe behaviours for each job, along with environmental conditions that should be present (e.g., clear walkways, proper lighting). Clear definitions help observers and workers share the same expectations.

Training Observers and Staff
Observers need training in how to watch tasks fairly and give constructive feedback. All employees should be briefed on the purpose of BBS so they understand it is about improvement, not punishment.

Observation, Feedback and Hazard Identification
Regular observations should cover both employee actions and the physical environment. Immediate, positive feedback reinforces good practices and flags hazards for prompt correction.

Tracking and Analysing Data
Recording observations allows you to see trends in both behaviours and conditions. This data guides decisions on where to focus training, resources, or engineering changes.

Recognising Improvements
Recognise and reward teams or individuals who demonstrate consistent safe behaviours or contribute valuable safety suggestions. Positive reinforcement helps sustain momentum.

How to Implement Behaviour-Based Safety Step by Step

Below is a practical roadmap for rolling out a behaviour-based safety (BBS) program. Each step explains what to do, what tools or deliverables to produce, and a typical time frame so you can anticipate the resources needed.

1. Secure Leadership Support and Define Goals

How to do it?
Prepare a brief but clear business case for behaviour-based safety (BBS) using your organisation’s incident data and costs. Present it formally to senior management and ask for an official endorsement plus visible participation (e.g. attending the kickoff). This shows the workforce that BBS is a priority.

Tools/Deliverables
An endorsed BBS policy or statement for distribution, meeting minutes showing approval, and a one-page overview or slide deck to share with staff.

Typical Duration
About 2–4 weeks depending on management schedules; enough time to draft materials and secure a clear mandate before moving on.

2. Form a Cross-Functional Safety Team

How to do it?
Invite representatives from operations, HR, safety and frontline staff to form a small BBS committee. The existing safety and health committee may also play a role here. Define roles and set a meeting schedule to drive the rollout.

Tools/Deliverables
Team charter or terms of reference, a list of members with roles, and a simple calendar of meetings.

Typical Duration
1–2 weeks to select and confirm members.

3. Identify Critical Behaviours and Hazardous Conditions

How to do it?
Review recent incidents, audits and risk assessments with the team. Hold short workshops with employees to validate which behaviours and conditions have the biggest impact on safety.

Tools/Deliverables
A prioritised list of critical safe behaviours and conditions supported by data from incident logs, hazard registers, HIRARC records, JHAs or JSAs.

Typical Duration
2–3 weeks of data analysis and input.

4. Develop Simple Observation Checklists

How to do it?
Turn your list of critical behaviours and conditions into a user-friendly checklist. Keep it short enough for observers to complete quickly but comprehensive enough to identify trends. Include both behavioural items (what people do) and environmental items (the conditions around them). Provide clear guidance notes so everyone scores the same way.

Tools/Deliverables
An observation checklist or form (paper or digital) with:

Separate sections for behaviours and environmental conditions.
Guidance notes explaining each item to ensure consistency.
A simple scoring system (e.g. Safe / At-Risk / Not Applicable).
Fields for observer name, date, location and comments.
A place to record immediate actions taken or hazards flagged.

Sample Common Checklist Fields

Field	Example Entry
Observer Name	Jang Deen
Date / Time	15 Sept 20xx, 10:00 AM
Location / Task	Loading Dock – Pallet Handling
Behavioural Items	Wearing PPE; Correct lifting technique; Following lockout/tagout; Using tools correctly
Environmental Items	Adequate lighting; Clear walkways; Proper guardrails; Spill clean-up in place
Scoring	Safe / At-Risk / Not Applicable (tick boxes)
Comments	“Spill near aisle 3 – reported to supervisor”
Immediate Action Taken	Yes / No (describe)

This template helps observers collect consistent data and flags both unsafe acts and unsafe conditions in one pass. The form does not need to be sophisticated but rather practical and emphasize on ease-of-use by any non-safety personnel.

Typical Duration
1–2 weeks to draft, review with the safety team, pilot in one area and finalise for full use.

5. Train Observers and Communicate the Program

How to do it?
Run brief training sessions for selected observers on using the checklist and giving constructive feedback. At the same time, explain the program’s purpose to all staff to build trust.

Tools/Deliverables
Training slides and handouts, attendance records, internal comms (emails, posters, FAQs).

Typical Duration
1–3 weeks depending on workforce size.

6. Launch Observations and Condition Checks

How to do it?
Start with a pilot area or department. Observers conduct regular observations and condition checks, using the checklist consistently.

Tools/Deliverables
Observation schedules, assigned observer routes, and a simple pilot report template.

Typical Duration
4–8 weeks for a pilot before full rollout.

7. Provide Immediate Feedback and Corrective Action

How to do it?
After each observation, discuss findings with the worker in a positive tone. Log and address unsafe conditions promptly.

Tools/Deliverables
Feedback guidelines, quick-correction log or hazard report form, and an escalation process for urgent hazards.

Typical Duration
Continuous; feedback on the spot, corrections within 24–48 hours.

8. Record and Analyse Results

How to do it?
Compile observation data regularly to identify patterns in behaviours and conditions. Use simple charts or dashboards to share progress.

Tools/Deliverables
Central database or spreadsheet, monthly summary reports, trend graphs.

Typical Duration
Ongoing; initial reporting set up within 1–2 weeks.

How to do it?
Celebrate improvements in safe behaviours or hazard reduction. Share success stories in meetings or newsletters to keep motivation high.

Tools/Deliverables
Recognition program guidelines, safety bulletin updates, award certificates or small incentives.

Typical Duration
Monthly or quarterly, aligned with reporting cycles.

10. Review, Improve and Expand

How to do it?
Hold periodic reviews to assess effectiveness, update behaviours and conditions, refresh training, and plan expansion company-wide.

Tools/Deliverables
Review meeting minutes, updated checklists, revised training modules, expansion plan.

Typical Duration
Formal review every 6–12 months; ongoing adjustments as needed.

Keeping Employees Engaged

A behaviour-based safety program thrives when employees feel genuinely involved rather than inspected. Consistent, open communication helps remove fear and builds trust. Regular toolbox talks, team huddles and clear updates about program progress remind everyone that the focus is on improvement, not blame.

Empowerment is equally important. When workers are encouraged to point out hazards, suggest improvements and support each other’s safe practices, safety becomes a shared value instead of a management directive.

Peer-to-peer recognition, small rewards or public shout-outs in meetings can further sustain interest and reinforce the right behaviours.

Finally, keep engagement fresh by rotating observers, updating safety messages and sharing success stories. Highlighting how employee feedback has led to real changes in the workplace shows that their voices matter and strengthens long-term participation.

Monitoring and Sustaining Success

Launching a behaviour-based safety program is only the beginning; its real value comes from consistent monitoring and long-term commitment. Establish a few clear performance indicators such as the ratio of safe to at-risk behaviours, the number of hazards corrected, and participation rates to measure progress over time. Sharing these metrics with both management and employees keeps everyone informed and reinforces transparency.

Regular reviews and mini-audits help keep the program relevant. Check whether observers are completing observations as planned, whether checklists still reflect current tasks, and whether any new hazards or processes require updates. Gathering anonymous employee feedback on how helpful the program feels can also reveal gaps before enthusiasm fades.

Finally, integrate BBS into routine operations so it becomes part of “how we work” rather than an add-on. Refresh training for new hires, rotate observers to keep perspectives fresh, and celebrate improvements publicly. These small but consistent actions ensure that behaviour-based safety remains effective, adaptable, and embedded in the culture for the long term.

Common Pitfalls in BBS

Even well-designed programs can falter if certain issues are overlooked. Common pitfalls include:

Lack of Management Follow-Through
Initial enthusiasm fades if leaders stop participating. Regularly review progress and keep leadership visible to sustain credibility.
Focusing Only on Behaviour, Not Conditions
Ignoring environmental hazards undermines trust and effectiveness. Make sure checklists cover both actions and conditions.
Punitive or “Gotcha” Culture
If employees feel observations are used for discipline, participation drops. Maintain a positive, coaching-based approach.
Inconsistent Observations and Data
Without clear guidance, different observers may record behaviours differently. Train and calibrate observers regularly.
Program Fatigue
Over time, people may treat observations as box-ticking. Refresh checklists, rotate observers and share success stories to keep interest alive.

Recognising and planning for these pitfalls helps organisations design a balanced, fair and sustainable BBS program that truly improves safety culture.

Conclusion – BBS is Not Fault Finding But Problem Solving

A well-run behaviour-based safety (BBS) program is not just about observing people; it is about creating an environment where safe actions and safe conditions reinforce each other. By blending leadership support, employee involvement, clear definitions of safe practices and proactive hazard control, organisations can shift from reacting to incidents to preventing them before they occur.

The key is to start small and build steadily. Even a simple checklist or a pilot observation round can uncover valuable insights and begin changing habits. As trust grows and conditions improve, your BBS program will naturally expand, embedding safety into daily operations and culture.

Whether your workplace is large or small, you can take the first step today: involve your team, look at both behaviours and hazards together, and act on what you learn. Over time, these small, consistent actions create a safer, more engaged workforce where everyone goes home safe each day.

Read

Behaviour Based Safety: An Overview. Retrieved from https://www.ohsrep.org.au/behaviour_based_safety

Behavior-based safety 2022: today’s evidence. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/01608061.2022.2048943?needAccess=true

BEHAVIOUR BASED SAFETY GUIDE. Retrieved from https://www.hsa.ie/eng/publications_and_forms/publications/safety_and_health_management/behaviour_based_safety_guide.pdf