Behavior Based Safety (BBS) should be included in a safety management program because it directly addresses the root cause of most workplace incidents: human behavior. Research consistently shows that unsafe behaviors contribute to over 90% of workplace accidents, making behavioral observation and positive reinforcement essential complements to traditional engineering controls and PPE. In this blog series we explore why BBS belongs in every EHS program. We spoke with industry professionals Joseph Braun, EHS Manager at Ferrara Candy Company; John Peoples, Global EHS Manager at Huntsman Corporation; and Chad Rasmussen, EHS Manager at Cardinal Health to get an insider look at how to manage an effective Behavior Based Safety management program.
People — The Common Factor in All Workplace Injuries
To some, the benefits of a Behavior Based Safety program may seem difficult to quantify — how do you extract concrete data from the everyday actions and decisions of your workforce? It may seem more straightforward to direct resources toward engineering controls and protective equipment, tangible assets with obvious safety value. But this thinking overlooks the single common factor present in virtually every workplace injury: people. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were approximately 2.6 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported in 2023 alone — the majority linked to behavioral factors rather than equipment failure.
A BBS Safety program that does not take special consideration of human attitudes, beliefs, values, and feelings toward safety is missing a critical piece of your overall safety management system. Behavioral Based Safety takes a holistic approach — it examines the safe environment of a workplace holistically and uncovers the root causes of unsafe behaviors and latent hazards before they result in incidents. As Joseph Braun, EHS Manager at Ferrara Candy Co. puts it, “BBS helps to get a feel for what is really going on at the floor level. It provides data to make decisions on where to focus your safety programs and what areas are lacking.” Aligned with the ISO 45001:2018 framework’s emphasis on worker participation and proactive hazard identification, a BBS program helps you pinpoint exactly where resources and safety assets are most needed.
BBS as a Tool for Positive Reinforcement and to Focus on What Works
A BBS Safety Management Program that focuses exclusively on unsafe behaviors and hazards risks becoming reactionary — addressing dangers only after they have already harmed your people and your business. That approach defeats the purpose of a proactive safety program. To genuinely strengthen your safety culture, you must also identify and reinforce what works: the everyday actions your employees take that protect themselves and their colleagues. As Chad Rasmussen, EHS Manager at Cardinal Health, explains: “Not all hazards can be controlled by elimination or engineering. When employees need to be trusted to make decisions regarding their safety, the right choices need to be reinforced. People get complacent and don’t always notice positive outcomes when they become routine. At that point, people start to knowingly or unknowingly make riskier choices.” Identifying and positively reinforcing safe behaviors is precisely what an effective BBS program is designed to do — and it directly supports OSHA’s General Duty Clause requirement to maintain a workplace free from recognized hazards.
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BBS as a Tool to Empower Workers
When planned thoroughly, implemented consistently, and executed with care, a BBS program creates measurable, lasting improvements in workplace safety culture and employee well-being. It empowers workers to take ownership of safety outcomes. As John Peoples, Global EHS Manager at Huntsman Corporation, puts it: “It provides an opportunity to recognize and reinforce high standards and good practices displayed by our teams.” That high standard — where safe behavior becomes the organizational norm — is the most valuable outcome any EHS program can achieve. It directly prevents workplace accidents and injuries before they occur. A well-executed BBS program is not reactive; it is proactive, data-driven, and capable of saving lives. This aligns with the continuous improvement cycle required by ISO 45001 and supports measurable reductions in your Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR).
Take time to consider whether your safety management program addresses the behavioral dimension of risk. Do you struggle to bring employees into the safety conversation? Do you want confidence that your workers will make the right decisions when no one is watching? Do you want your employees to become Safety Leaders who proactively improve conditions on the floor? If you answered yes to any of these questions, a Behavior Based Safety program deserves a serious look.
Stay tuned for more blogs in this series!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Behavior Based Safety (BBS)?
Behavior Based Safety (BBS) is a data-driven safety management approach that focuses on observing, analyzing, and positively reinforcing safe workplace behaviors. Rather than relying solely on engineering controls or PPE, BBS targets the human behavioral factors that contribute to the majority of workplace incidents. A structured BBS program typically includes regular safety observations, feedback conversations, and tracking of safe versus at-risk behaviors over time.
How does BBS align with OSHA and ISO 45001 requirements?
BBS directly supports OSHA’s General Duty Clause by helping organizations identify and address recognized behavioral hazards before they cause harm. It also aligns with ISO 45001:2018 Clause 5.4, which mandates worker consultation and participation in the occupational health and safety management system. By systematically engaging employees in hazard identification and safe behavior reinforcement, BBS strengthens both regulatory compliance and audit readiness.
How do you measure the effectiveness of a BBS program?
Key performance indicators for a BBS program include: the rate of safe versus at-risk behaviors observed, the number of safety observations completed per period, trends in near-miss reporting, corrective action closure rates, and leading indicators such as participation rates in safety conversations. Lagging indicators such as TRIR and Lost Time Incident Rate (LTIR) will also reflect improvements over time as the behavioral safety culture matures. Platforms like Certainty Software enable centralized tracking of BBS observation data, helping EHS teams turn behavioral insights into measurable safety improvements.
What are the biggest challenges in implementing a BBS program?
The most common challenges include: lack of leadership buy-in, employees viewing observations as surveillance rather than support, inconsistent follow-through on corrective actions, and difficulty sustaining engagement over time. Overcoming these barriers requires clear communication of the program’s purpose, non-punitive observation practices, regular feedback loops, and visible management commitment to acting on the data collected.
