Behavioral Observation Intervention

Introduction to Behavioural Observation and Intervention

Developed by the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council, Behavioural Observation and Intervention (BO&I) is a simplified behavioural safety initiative a company may adopt to demonstrate care for its workers, instil in them safe work practices, and reduce the incidence of at-risk work behaviours. The BO&I initiative supports WSH culture building efforts and can be used to enhance the “Ownership and Teamwork” attribute of the WSH CultureSAFE Model.

What is Behavioural Observation and Intervention?

BO&I is a safety initiative developed by the WSH Council. It aims to promote safe work practices and instil a sense of safety ownership in all workers in a company.

What can Behavioural Observation and Intervention do?

BO&I aims to reduce the incidence of at-risk work behaviours, resulting in fewer WSH incidents and injuries, lower operating costs, greater productivity and improved WSH performance.

Who is Behavioural Observation and Intervention for?

BO&I is for all companies, including Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs),which are keen to explore a behavioural approach to improving WSH performance.

Why implement Behavioural Observation and Intervention?

Beyond increased productivity and improved WSH performance, BO&I is a significant step to establish a positive WSH culture where employers and employees care for one another, exercise teamwork, and take greater ownership of their actions and those of their colleagues.

Other benefits of implementing BO&I include:

• allowing management to demonstrate commitment to WSH;
• enabling two-way WSH ommunication between the workforce and management and between employees;
• engaging employees in matters pertaining to WSH;
• empowering employees to act promptly in response to at-risk behaviours;
• creating greater awareness of the impact of human factors on WSH.

Where can Behavioural Observation and Intervention work?

BO&I can be implemented in any industry (from construction, marine and manufacturing to healthcare, retail and almost any office-based work environment) where WSH is of paramount importance and the goal is for every worker to go home to their families safe and injury-free at the end of each day.

When is the right time for Behavioural Observation and Intervention?

Companies with safe work procedures (SWPs) and a WSH management system in place will be in a better position to reap the benefits of BO&I.

To download a copy of the WSH guide on Behavioral Observation Intervention

And here is the video on Behavioral Observation Intervention