Behind the Behind the Mirror of SafetyMirror of Safety

Steve DanonSteve DanonDirector, Risk Control ServicesDirector, Risk Control ServicesMarcotte Insurance AgencyMarcotte Insurance Agency

“It ain’t what you don’t know that’s a problem…it’s what you know that ain’t

so.” - Will Rogers““OurOur

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Biased By Our Past

Marcotte Risk Services

Myth 1“Safety is Zero Accidents and

Injuries”““OurOur

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Safety must go beyond simply reducing injuries

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•5 injuries this month

•2 injuries the next month

Is Your Safety Is Your Safety Program WorkingProgram Working ? ?

The mirror gives a good view of The mirror gives a good view of where you’ve been, but provides where you’ve been, but provides

little assistance in steering toward little assistance in steering toward new destinations.new destinations.

While using past injury data is helpful, it is

similar to steering your car by using the rearview mirror to navigate where

you are going.

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MYTH 1: Injury statistics represent the lack of safety

A valid program should reflect what safety is not what it is not.

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Reality:Accident & injury statisticsmeasure the aftermath of

unsafe events.

“Safety is Zero Accidents & Injuries”

Myth 2““Correcting Correcting

Unsafe Unsafe Conditions Conditions

Will Eliminate Will Eliminate Injuries”Injuries”

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“Most injuries are the result of people actions, not unsafe conditions or equipment

failures.

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PeoplePeople

HazardsHazards

== 90%90%

= = 10%10%

Myth 2

Reality: Most injuries result from people actions.

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“Correcting Unsafe Conditions Will

Eliminate Injuries”

Myth 3““If You Create If You Create Enough Rules, Enough Rules,

Policies & Policies & Procedures, Procedures, People Won’t People Won’t

Get Hurt”Get Hurt”““OurOur

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Mandates and regulations Mandates and regulations simply fail to address simply fail to address

motivational factors that motivational factors that affect compliance.affect compliance.

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Myth 3

Reality: Rules, policies and procedures may encourage safe actions, but they are only as effective as the

consequences they predict.

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“If You Create Enough Rules, Policies & Procedures, People

Won’t Get Hurt”

Safety rules only remind people what to do

Enforcement efforts are still required to make even the simplest safety rules work.

Myth 4100% Compliance = 100% Safe100% Compliance = 100% Safe

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If people are required to be safe most will comply.

The rest will conform if threatened.

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Logic says:Logic says:

Truth is:Truth is: Safety procedures should be used as guidelines for

behavior.

Rules should be reserved for conduct that is vital and strictly enforced.

Myth 4

Reality: 100% compliance only achieves

a “minimum acceptable” standard of safety.

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100% Compliance = 100% Safe Compliance should be

a job expectation

Working under the threat of penalties people tend to conform to the minimum required standard

Myth 5““Observation Observation Audits Reliably Audits Reliably Indicate How Indicate How

Safely Jobs Are Safely Jobs Are Being Being

Performed”Performed”““OurOur

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Observation audits are usually Observation audits are usually performed with the performed with the

employee’s consent, or employee’s consent, or knowledge which corrupts knowledge which corrupts

any data or conclusions any data or conclusions regarding the amount of regarding the amount of

work being performed safely.work being performed safely.

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Myth 5

Reality: Observation audits usually only

reveal deficiencies in employee knowledge or skill

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“Observation Audits Reliably Indicate How Safely Jobs

Are Being Performed”

Audits only assess employee knowledge and/or skill to work safely.

They ignore motivational factors present under normal work conditions

Myth 6““Declining Injury Rates Declining Injury Rates

Mean Safety Is Mean Safety Is Improving” Improving”

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An array of variables An array of variables interact and combine to interact and combine to yield injury statistics. yield injury statistics.

Measuring safety requires Measuring safety requires knowing what safety is and knowing what safety is and

how often it is practiced.how often it is practiced.

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Myth 6

Reality: Declining injury rates means fewer people have been reported injured

(for whatever reason).

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Declining Injury Rates Mean Safety Is Improving

Rates can be reduced by giving immediate negative attention to “high” numbers or positive attention to “low” numbers.

Injury rates simply say “who won or lost”, not how the game was played.

Myth 7““Stopping Stopping Unsafe Acts Unsafe Acts Causes Safe Causes Safe

Acts To Occur Acts To Occur More Often”More Often”

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Stopping unsafe acts is Stopping unsafe acts is only half the battle.only half the battle.

Desired behavior does Desired behavior does not automatically not automatically

occur instead.occur instead.““OurOur

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Myth 7

Reality: For safe acts to occur more

frequently, they must be actively acknowledged and recognized.

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Stopping Unsafe Acts Causes Safe Acts To Occur More Often

Research shows that efforts designed solely to stop people from taking some action produce negative side effects.

People stopped from performing an unsafe act tend to do only what is needed to “get-by”.

Myth 8““Disciplinary Disciplinary

Action and Action and Threats of Threats of Discipline Discipline

Increase Safe Increase Safe Behavior”Behavior”

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Disciplinary action frequently Disciplinary action frequently drives unsafe acts drives unsafe acts

underground, where they underground, where they continue unseen by continue unseen by

supervisors.supervisors.

The likely response to discipline The likely response to discipline is an increase in behavior is an increase in behavior

aimed at preventing aimed at preventing “inspection & detection”“inspection & detection”

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Myth 8

Reality: Disciplinary actions temporarily stop

unsafe actions from being observed while fostering resentment and

negative attitudes.

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Disciplinary Action and Threats of Discipline Increase Safe Behavior

Sole reliance on disciplinary action to prompt compliance can cause management to think safety is commonplace and under control when, in fact, it is not.

To be effective such action must be consistently applied and enforced.

Myth 9““If Trained Properly, If Trained Properly,

People Will Work Safely”People Will Work Safely”

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Training can only address Training can only address problems of knowledge or skill, problems of knowledge or skill,

not motivation and behavior.not motivation and behavior.

Accident investigations frequently Accident investigations frequently reveal that those who have been reveal that those who have been injured possess the information injured possess the information and skill needed to work safely.and skill needed to work safely.

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Myth 9

Reality: People are well-trained when they have all the

knowledge and skill required to work safely. Training cannot change motivational factors

associated with day-to-day work.

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If Trained Properly, People Will Work Safely

Sole reliance on disciplinary action to prompt compliance can cause management to think safety is commonplace and under control when, in fact, it is not.

To be effective such action must be consistently applied and enforced.

Myth 10““Safety Incentive Safety Incentive

Programs Programs Reinforce Safe Reinforce Safe Behaviors and Behaviors and

Attitudes”Attitudes”““OurOur

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Because incentives are tied Because incentives are tied to injury numbers instead of to injury numbers instead of

behavior, they often behavior, they often unintentionally pressure unintentionally pressure

people to avoid work or not people to avoid work or not report injuriesreport injuries.

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Myth 10

Reality: Incentive programs commonly function

as “giveaways” that are unrelated to increased safety.

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Safety Incentive Programs Reinforce Safe Behaviors and

Attitudes Most incentive programs cannot reinforce safe behaviors because their

rewards rarely depend on the occurrence of safe actions.

Incentive programs usually reward periods of time free of recorded injuries or incidents

As long as employees avoid injuries, both their safe and unsafe behavior are credited as acceptable.

The steps to improve are simple, but not easy to accomplish

1. Accept the fact that all work-related injuries are 1. Accept the fact that all work-related injuries are preventable.preventable.

2. Adopt new measures that focus on safety instead 2. Adopt new measures that focus on safety instead of the lack of safety.of the lack of safety.

3. Involve all employees.3. Involve all employees.

4. Provide employees with the tools, skills and 4. Provide employees with the tools, skills and motivation to positively interact and support safety.motivation to positively interact and support safety.““OurOur

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Top 10 Safety Truths1. Accidents and injury statistics measure the aftermath of

unsafe acts.

2. Most injuries result from people actions.

3. Rules and procedures may encourage safe actions, but are only as effective as the consequences they predict.

4. 100% compliance only achieves a “minimum acceptable” standard of safety.

5. Observation audits only reveal deficiencies in employee knowledge or skill.

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Top 10 Safety Truths6. Declining injury rates mean fewer people have been

reported injured.

7. For safe acts to occur more frequently, they must be actively acknowledged and recognized.

8. Discipline temporarily stops unsafe acts from being observed while fostering resentment and negative attitudes.

9. People are well-trained when they have the knowledge and skill required to work safely. Training cannot change motivational factors associated with day-to-day work.

10. Incentive programs often function as “giveaways” unrelated to increased safety.

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SafetySafetySuccessSuccessStairwayStairway

Management Commitment & Employee Involvement

Worksite Analysis

Hazard Prevention& Control

Safety Education & Training

Develop & Maintain An Atmosphere of Safety

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Our Gift To You !!!

Additional Info:

sdanon@marcotteins.comsdanon@marcotteins.com““OurOur

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You Get The Level Of Safety You Get The Level Of Safety That You That You

Demonstrate You Want!Demonstrate You Want!