Psychological Approach to Improving Work Place Safety and Behavioral Change

1. Improving Work Place Safety
Andrew Dullock MA

2. Agenda
About the Author / Introduction
Misinterpretations
Motivation
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSA’s)
Behavioral Components
Conclusion

3. Introduction
 Goals:
• Reduce work related injuries and illnesses
• Improve morale and productivity
• Reduce workers’ compensation costs
 Aims:
• Management commitment provides motivation and confidence
• Employee involvement allows workers to develop and express
commitment to safety and health, while embracing change

4. Introduction
 Despite the importance of workplace safety, psychologists
have not played a major part in studying workplace safety.
 This is surprising, because the theoretical and
methodological traditions of psychology have much to offer
in terms of understanding the causes and prevention of
occupational injuries.
 This training aims to correct the situation by analyzing both
the behaviors that lead to accidental injuries in the workplace
and the behaviors that can prevent and manage them.

5. Improving Work Place Safety
By: Motivation

6. Motivation
 Internal Motivation:
• Support through active monitoring employee performance
• Actively caring for the well-being of the individual
• Inspiring the individual with open communication and guidance
 External Motivation:
• Vision of the teams safety goals and communicating the ‘road
map’ to achieve them.
• Role modeling of compliant behaviors thereby setting the
bench mark that is expected.

7. Motivation

8. Motivation

9. Improving Work Place Safety
By: KSA’s

10. Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSA’s)
Benefits:
 People learn about themselves (Weaknesses and
Strengths)
 Display confidence
 Break down barriers (Team Work)
 Build trust
 Motivate
 Develop listening skills

11. Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSA’s)
What Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities do employee need
to successfully adopt a safe work environment?
Fact:
The last 100 years have seen a substantial reduction in the
number of work-related deaths and injuries, at least in
industrialized nations. Nevertheless, fatalities and injuries on
the job still occur at unacceptably high rates in both industrial
and developing countries. The direct and indirect economic
cost of these injuries is staggering.

12. Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSA’s)
 Attention
 The ability to focus on a particular task
 Care
 A persons level of concern for the safety of others
 Regulation
 The capability to monitor emotions and anxiety
 Self-Efficacy
 The ability to perform the task successfully

13. Improving Work Place Safety
By: Behavioral Components

14. Behavioral Components

15. Conclusion

16. Conclusion

17. Discussion