As part of our 2018 National Rail Safety week campaign, we're focusing on behavioural safety and the impact it has on the industry. To gain better insight, we asked one of our clients, Steve French, safety performance and leadership coach at Buckingham Group, for his thoughts.
What changes have you made or what improvements have you seen within your business since adopting behavioural safety training?
SF - “We have put some degree of effort into engaging with our workpeople. We have launched shorter, site-specific inductions and monthly engagement meetings which give our workers a chance to make suggestions about site improvement, including production, safety and efficiency. Since introducing these new efforts, we have noticed a greater degree of cooperation and trust.”
How do you think behavioural safety training compares with more traditional methods of health and safety training?
SF - “Behavioural safety should deal with issues of attitude and behaviour, rather than technical safety issues. Despite this, it is entirely different from dealing with topics such as inclusion, respect and fairness.”
Which elements of health and safety stand out to you? Which elements have been most effective in reducing risk/injury within your organisation?
SF - “The most effective communication respects experience. By allowing the most experienced and trusted employees assist in the exemplary running of the site, then high performance follows. I believe poor behaviours and attitudes within the workforce are a direct result of both poor management and poor leadership.”