March 17 2019
By: Terry L. Mathis
First, HOP (Human and Organizational Performance) challenged BBS (Behavior-Based Safety) by claiming that it simply blamed and tried to "fix" workers rather than recognizing other organizational issues that influence behavior. Now folks have announced their "new" approach to BBS which recognizes that other factors influence behavior. Both would be remarkable breakthroughs had we not already been approaching BBS that way for 25 years.
The naïve belief that human behavior can be changed simply through feedback, without addressing conflicting influences in the environment and culture, permeated mainstream BBS for decades. Those who promoted this approach pleaded with their clients not to blame the workers while asserting that the at-risk behaviors of workers were the cause of most accidents. The reality is that people do things for a reason. If you don't address the reason, you might not change the behavior.
Terry Mathis, Founder and retired CEO of ProAct Safety, has served as a consultant and advisor for top organizations the world over. A respected strategist and thought leader, Terry has authored five books, numerous articles, videos and blogs, and is known for his dynamic and engaging presentations. EHS Today has named him one of the '50 People Who Most Influenced EHS' four consecutive times. Business leaders and safety professionals seek Terry's practical insight and unique ability to introduce new perspectives that lead to real change.
