Elements of a Successful Safety Program

IDENTIFYING THE ELEMENTS OF SUCCESSFUL
SAFETY PROGRAMS:
A LITERATURE REVIEW

BY LISA A.

RONALD

A REPORT PREPARED FOR THE PREVENTION DIVISION,
WORKERS 'COMPENSATION BOARD OF BRITISH COLUMBIA,
RICHMOND, B.C.

AUGUST 1998

© 1999 Workers ' Compensation Board of British Columbia.
All rights reserved. The Workers ' Compensation Board of B.C. encourages the copying, reproduction, and distribution of this document to promote health and safety in the workplace, provided that the Workers ' Compensation Board of B.C. is acknowledged. However, no part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, or distributed for profit or other commercial enterprise or may be incorporated into any other publication without written permission of the
Workers ' Compensation Board of B.C.
Additional copies of this publication may be obtained by contacting:
Workers ' Compensation Board of British Columbia
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Richmond, BC V7C 4N1
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1070-20 U 1998

Identifying the Elements of Successful Safety Programs: A Literature Review
Issue:
Agency:
Representative:

Identification of Effective Components of Safety Programs
University of British Columbia
Ms. Lisa A. Ronald

This review focuses on the costs that occur when the health and safety of workers is not considered, and the key ingredients for safety program success. For example, the monetary and human costs of injury and illness associated with lost productivity /damaged product and equipment, retraining and administration, combined with the loss of a dedicated and capable workforce and possible labor/management conflicts.
This report then focuses on five main elements, which are viewed as basic ingredients of all successful safety programs, including:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

People Oriented Culture
Active Safety Leadership/Management Commitment
Job Design and Ergonomic

References: Guastello, S.J., (1993), "Do we really know how well our occupational accident prevention programs work?" Safety Science, Vol.16, pp.445-463. Gilmore, Michael R., (1996), "The Behavioural Approach" OH&S Canada, Nov/Dec, pp.2630. Krause, T.R. and McCorquodle, R.J., (1996), "Transitioning Away from Safety Incentive Programs" Professional Safety, March, pp.32-36. Krause, T.R., (1998), "Safety Incentives from a Behavioural Perspective: Presenting a Balance Sheet" American Society of Safety Engineers, August, pp Loafmann, Betty, (1998), "Behaviour-Based Safety: Power & Pitfalls" American Society of Safety Engineers, August, pp.20-23. Manuele, FA., (1998), "Perspectives on Behavioural Safety: Observations of ASSE 's Behavioural Safety Symposium" American Society of Safety Engineers, August, pp.32-37. Speir, R.O., (1998), "Punishment in Accident Investigation" American Society of Safety Engineers, August, pp.29-32. Weinstein, M.B., (1998), "Improving Behaviour-Based Safety Through TQM" American Society of Safety Engineers, January, pp.29-33.