Articles and Presentations

Behavior-based safety and performance management are both applications of the science of behavior analysis. The technology that we at Quality Safety Edge bring to our clients has been tested again and again in every kind of industry. Behavior-based safety is all about increasing safe performance, and decreasing the kinds of unsafe behavior that lead to injury in the workplace. Quality Safety Edge has found that a safety process is most effective when it is "owned" by the people it is designed to protect. That is the essence of the Values-Based Safety^™ Process (VBSP).

In addition to the articles below, please enjoy the success stories of Bayer Corporation, CITGO Refining and Chemicals Company, Tamko Roofing Products, and Quebecor World Hazleton – actual case studies of companies who have successfully implemented VBSP and realized the benefits.

Use this Table of Contents or the Google search box to find articles of interest on this site.

• Principles of Behavioral Safety
• Terry McSween's "President's Columns"
• Considering Implementing a Behavioral Safety Process?
• Safety Leadership
• Implementing and Improving Your Process
• Culture and Values
• Papers from the Behavior Safety Now 2007 Conference
• Papers from the Behavior Safety Now 2006 Conference
• Papers from the Behavior Safety Now 2005 Conference
• Papers from the Behavior Safety Now 2004 Conference
• Papers from the Behavior Safety Now 2003 Conference
• Papers from the Behavior Safety Now 2002 Conference
• Papers from the Behavior Safety Now 2001 Conference
• Papers on Performance Improvement

On the Web Qualitysafetyedge.com

Papers On Behavior Based Safety

Principles of Behavior Based Safety

Improve Your Safety Program with a Behavioral Approach by Grainne Matthews, Ph.D. and Terry McSween, Ph.D.

Improve Your Safety With a Behavioral Approach by Terry McSween, Ph.D.
(Published in Hydrocarbon Processing, 1993)

Step-by-step guide to creating a successful Behavioral Safety process

Mejorando su Seguridad con un Enfoque Conductual by Terry McSween, Ph.D.
(Published in Hydrocarbon Processing, 1993), in Spanish

The Values-Based Safety Process by Terry McSween, Ph.D.

Today’s behavioral safety systems have two distinct elements: a behavioral observation process and a team-based management process.

Keys to a Successful Behavioral Safety Process by Terry McSween, Ph.D.
ASSE Region III Professional Development Conference and Exposition, San Antonio, August 4, 2004, and also at the Edison Electric Institute's EEI Occupational Safety & Health Conference, Houston, April 25, 2005.

Six keys to success in BBS.

Love the Process, Hate the Name by Terry McSween, Ph.D.

In a June, 2004 interview with Occupational Hazards, Terry McSween discusses the successes of behavior-based safety – while arguing that it should be called something else.

"President's Columns" from Safety and Performance Edge News

A Recent Research Report

A recent report sheds light on why Chevron decided to abandon behavior-based safety. On careful reading, the study does not invalidate behavior-based safety, rather it is instructive on how to design an ineffective BBS process, one which attempts to fix behavior without addressing either the social or physical environment. The lesson that should be drawn from this is "if you are going to do behavior-based safety, either take the time to really study the literature and gain an in-depth understanding, hire the expertise into your organization, or bring in outside support on a contract basis – even if just for a day to get input on the plans you developed internally!"

Leadership Practices Critical to Sustaining BBS Effectiveness

The two most important things that leaders can do to support BBS are (1) create alignment and integration with other management systems and with personal behaviors, and (2) monitor the process. When BBS initiatives fail, it is almost always a failure in one of these two areas.

Keeping Your Process Evergreen: Recognition and Celebrations

While recognition and celebrations are critical to a robust behavior-based safety (BBS) process, they are often conducted poorly or even ignored. Reinforcement is the ultimate key to a successful BBS process. Do it well and your process will thrive; do it poorly and your process will struggle.

Keeping Your Process Evergreen: Using Your Data

One of the long-term challenges that companies encounter is sustaining interest and participation in their behavior-based safety initiatives. Building interest and participation is almost always a matter of ensuring that all of the critical elements are in place, then sustaining the integrity of each of those elements. Generally, organizations that struggle with sustaining their initiatives have problems in one of three areas: effective use of the safety data, appropriate leadership support and involvement, or recognition and celebrations

Safety Leadership

Certain practices serve as the framework for supporting Values-Based Safety®. Executives and Sponsors must model these behaviors for the teams involved in the Values-Based Safety® implementation and for employees participating in the process. These behaviors will help you support the Design Team and Steering Committees in the organization as they bring about change the “right” way.

But What About Our Contractors? by Terry McSween, Ph.D.

We are glad to see more companies concerned about the safety of their contract employees. Such organizations want to know to what extent the contractors should be involved in the behavior-based safety process. There is no "one size fits all" answer. Instead, it depends on the extent to which the organization depends on contract employees and the nature of their work. One good idea is to include observer training in the new employee orientation process for contractors as well as employees.

The Complacency Index: The Value of Voluntary Observations by Terry McSween, Ph.D.

There are tradeoffs in the steering committee's decision whether to make observations voluntary or mandatory. You might get higher numbers of observations if they are mandatory, but they will be of lesser quality.

Creating a "Point of Contact" for Behavioral Safety by Terry McSween, Ph.D.

One of the keys to the success of a behavior-based safety process is establishing an effective Steering Committee to oversee and manage the process.

Advanced Topics: Adding Leadership Observations by Terry McSween, Ph.D.

After years of promoting "employees only" observations, how do you transition to management participation in observations?

Considering Implementing a Behavioral Safety Process?

Making Sense of Different Safety Approaches by Terry E. McSween, Ph.D.
   (Published in Industrial Safety and Hygiene News, October 1995).

Create synergy between three different approaches

Behavioral Safety from the Consumer's Perspective by Grainne Matthews, Ph.D.

Determining who really provides behavioral safety. Many people call themselves behavioral safety experts – how can you know for sure?

The Infamous Quick Fix by Terry E. McSween, Ph.D. (Published in Industrial Safety and Hygiene News, February 1996).

There are ways of reducing the cycle time so that it does not take as long as you might suspect to see results!

Safety Leadership

Safety Leadership

Certain practices serve as the framework for supporting Values-Based Safety®. Executives and Sponsors must model these behaviors for the teams involved in the Values-Based Safety® implementation and for employees participating in the process. These behaviors will help you support the Design Team and Steering Committees in the organization as they bring about change the “right” way.

Safety Leadership: Challenges and Solutions by Terry McSween, Ph.D.

Paper presented at the American Society of Safety Engineers annual Professional Development Conference in Orlando, in June, 2000.

Building a Management Foundation for Behavioral Safety by Grainne A. Matthews, Ph.D.

A case study of safety leadership in an organization that wasn't quite ready for a behavioral safety process. The organization decided to improve Safety Leadership with a values-based behavioral approach before asking employees to become involved.

The Role of Supervisors in Behavioral Safety Observations by Scott Cook and Terry E. McSween (Published in Professional Safety magazine, October 2000)

Safety professionals have long recognized the importance of management support and involvement in achieving effective safety improvement. Based on Quality Safety Edge's experience, the authors have concluded that supervisors and managers should generally conduct observations as part of a behavioral safety process.

Leadership Issues in Implementing Change: It's All a Matter of Behavior by Ann Pinney, MA, MBA and Terry McSween, PhD

A bad leader can kill a good process!

Implementing and Improving Your Process

Coaching And Observation: Two Elements As The Basis Of The Entire System by Grainne A. Matthews, Ph.D.

Two elements that are the basis of any System

Measure Up! Promoting Improvement Through Behavioral Safety by Terry E. McSween, Ph.D.(Published in the Proceedings of the Behavioral Safety Symposium: The Next Step, American Society of Safety Engineers, February 2001.

One of the defining features of behavioral safety is that decisions are based on data. Objective information is the basis for action.

Using Observation Data to Keep the Process Alive and Well by Grainne Matthews, Ph.D.

The full-text version of Grainne's 2001 BSN presentation

Taking stock of behavioral safety – Here´s how you can measure your Process by Grainne A. Matthews, Ph.D. and Terry McSween, Ph.D. (Published in Industrial Safety and Hygiene News, June 1998.

Measurement is the heart of a successful process

Feedback – Is it really necessary? by Grainne Matthews

Improving Ergonomics Processes Through Peer-to-Peer Coaching, by Tom Burns

Creating a "Point of Contact" for Behavioral Safety, by Terry McSween.

Culture and Values

Behavioral Safety: Save Lives By Involving Employees by Grainne Matthews, Ph.D.

Ejemplo de Análisis Funcional (ACC) (en Español) de Grainne Matthews, Ph.D.

Culture: A Behavioral Perspective by Terry E. McSween, Ph.D. and Grainne A. Matthews, Ph.D.(Published in Proceedings of the 1998 ASSE Behavioral Safety Symposium, Light Up Safety in the New Millenium, American Society of Safety Engineers.)

Achieving the next level in safety

Behavior vs. Attitudes: What Do We Address? by Terry E. McSween, Ph.D. (Published in Proceedings of the 1998 ASSE Behavioral Safety Symposium, Light Up Safety in the New Millenium, American Society of Safety Engineers.)

Allocating your most precious resource – time.

Behavior vs. Attitudes: Achieving Lasting Improvement in Safety by Terry E. McSween, Ph.D. (Published in Proceedings of the 36th Annual Professional Development Conference, American Society of Safety Engineers, 1997.)

Aligning your culture and your systems.

Values and Behavior: Building a Culture that Promotes Safety by Terry E. McSween, Ph.D. (Published in 2005 AIChE Spring National Meeting Conference Proceedings, available on CD-ROM from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)).

What do we really mean by establishing Safety as a Value?

Understanding The Disconnect Between Safety and The Hispanic Workforce, by Horacio Roman

Behavior Safety Now 2007 Presentations (Powerpoint slides as PDF documents)

Safety Leadership at a Western Coal Mine by Grainne A. Matthews, Ph.D.

Behavioral Coaching for Safety by Grainne A. Matthews, Ph.D.

Behavior Safety Now 2006 Presentations (Powerpoint slides as PDF documents)

The Practice of Safety Leadership by Terry E. McSween, Ph.D.

Keeping the Process Alive: Data Analysis and Reinforcement by Terry E. McSween, Ph.D.

Advanced Topics in Behavior-Based Safety by Terry E. McSween, Ph.D.

The ABCs: Critical Factors for Success by Grainne A. Matthews, Ph.D.

    ABC Analysis Worksheet by Grainne A. Matthews, Ph.D.

Introduction to Behavioral Safety (preconference workshop) by Grainne A. Matthews, Ph.D.

Behavior Safety Now 2005 Presentations (Powerpoint slides as PDF documents)

Behavioral Safety Today and Tomorrow by Terry E. McSween, Ph.D.

Keeping the Process Alive: Data Analysis and Reinforcement by Terry E. McSween, Ph.D.

The ABCs: Critical Success Factors by Wanda Myers, M.A.

Behavior Management: A Positive Approach by Wanda Myers, M.A.

Behavioral Safety for Employees Working in Isolation by Ann Pinney, MA, MBA

Leadership Issues In Implementing Change by Ann Pinney, MA, MBA

Productivity, Quality and Customer Service Gains: the Next Step in your BBS Process by Ann Pinney, MA, MBA

Behavior Safety Now 2004 Presentations (Powerpoint slides as PDF documents)

Measuring the Success of Your Behavioral Safety Process by Grainne A. Matthews, Ph.D.

Building Buy In, Creating Ownership: The Elusive Goal of Employee-Managed Behavioral Safety by Grainne A. Matthews, Ph.D.

Behavior Safety Now 2003 Presentations (Powerpoint)

Values, Behavior, & Cultural Alignment: Building BBS for the Long Term by Terry McSween, Ph.D.

What We Agree On: Finding Common Ground n Behavior-Based Safety by Terry McSween, Ph.D.

Measuring the Success of Your Behavioral Safety Process by Grainne Matthews, Ph.D.

Building Buy In, Creating Ownership: The Elusive Goal of Employee-Managed Behavioral Safety by Grainne Matthews, Ph.D.

Safety-Focused Trust-Based Leadership™ by Bob Foxworthy

Integrating Ergonomics Into Your Behavioral-Safety Process by Tom Burns, PE, CSP, CPE

Productivity, Quality and Customer Service Gains: the Next Step in your BBS Process by Ann Pinney, MA, MBA

Under What Circumstances Can Leaders Change? by Ann Pinney, MA, MBA

Manitoba Hydro: Implementation in a Geographically Diverse Company by Jeff Olsson

Leadership Issues In Implementing Change by Ann Pinney, PE, CSP

Behavior Safety Now 2002 Presentations (Powerpoint)

Your Keys to Successful BBS (or How to Overcome Resistance to BBS) by Terry McSween, Ph.D.

What Do We Agree On? Finding Common Ground on Behavior-Based Safety by Terry McSween, Ph.D.

Building Buy In, Creating Ownership: The Elusive Goal of Employee-Managed Behavioral Safety by Grainne Matthews, Ph.D.

Assessing Organizational Readiness for Behavioral Safety by Grainne Matthews, Ph.D.

Measuring the Success of Your Behavioral Safety Process by Grainne Matthews, Ph.D.

Integrating Ergonomics Into Your Behavioral-Safety Process, by Tom Burns, PE, CSP

Performance Management.Approach to Preventing Serious Incidents by Tom Burns, PE, CSP

Behavior-Based Safety: Stage II by Jerry Pounds (Marsh)

Why Should Safety Leaders Understand Research? by Scott Geller, Ph.D. (Safety Performance Solutions)

Leadership Issues In Implementing Change by Ann Pinney, PE, CSP

Behavior Safety Now 2001 Presentations (Powerpoint)

Cultural Alignment: Building for the Long Term by Terry McSween, Ph.D. (Keynote Address)

Behavior, Values & Attitudes: Achieving Lasting Improvements in Safety by Terry McSween, Ph.D.

Using Observation Data to Keep the Process Alive and Well by Grainne Matthews, Ph.D.

Performance Management Approach to Preventing Serious Incidents by Tom Burns, PE, CSP

Increasing Profitability through an Organizational Performance Improvement System (OPIS) by William Abernathy, Ph.D.

Behavioral Safety: A Best Practice With CITGO Petroleum Corporation by Rixio Medina, CSP (Keynote Address)

What Do We Really Know About BBS? by John Austin, Ph.D. (Keynote Address)

Practical & Proven Strategies for Maintaining the Behavioral Safety Process by Kathy Culig, MHSc

Safety Leadership System (Doing the right things for the right reasons) by Todd Travis, Lonnie Pena, and Bill Hise

Values-Based Safety Process: Quebecor World Hazleton by Jack Butler, Amy Kleinhelter, and Jeff Russ

Papers On Performance Management

What Behavior Analysis Offers Managers by Terry E. McSween and Jerry Pounds

Effective Feedback: The Key to Engineering Performance by Terry E. McSween and Robert L. Lorber

The morale and the productivity of an organization depend on whether the workers know how well they are doing. Here's how this feedback could be improved in your company.

Build Pride in the Workplace by Terry McSween, Ph.D.

How do we "put pride back in workmanship, drive fear out of the work place?" By increasing positive consequences and decreasing negative ones! Effective feedback makes the workplace more pleasant and more productive.

Leaderspeak: Converting the Language of Values to Frontline Performance by Jerry Pounds

The words you choose to use, or use but do not choose carefully have a significant impact on the performance of your organization.