The Behavioural Based Safety (BBS) and Culture Change Approach for Managing Workplace Safety

This paper attempts to investigate the current literature on behavioural based and culture change approach on workplace safety. It draws on current publications and the findings of a two recent research study; Safety Culture and Behavioural Based Study Approach. A semi-structured interview and questionnaire survey approach methods was adopted for both studies. The interrelationship, the comparison in terms of concept, characteristics, and application and implementation steps is analysed. The findings revealed that culture formation can be thought of as a series of behaviours and consequences. Behavioural Based approach to safety focuses on workers’ behaviour as the cause of most work-related injuries and illness. In contrast, the culture change approaches to safety are “top-down”, focus on changing the values and beliefs of the organisation, and involve working with the leadership of the enterprise. Hence, both approaches are complementary and a combination of the two will enhance workplace safety.