A risk is something we would all like to quantify, but which is sometimes difficult to do. A generally accepted formula for a Risk is “Risk= Chance X Effect/ Result”. In other words if we want to reduce risk, we can either reduce the chance of something happening or the result.

I would like to focus on the Chance bit. During work it is inevitable that risk situations will occur. Can we influence the number of situations that occur as being risky? I think we can, and one of the ways is by improving the habits of our staff.

To illustrate with an example, if it was common for staff to short cut through the slippery patch of a warehouse, you could ask them not to do it, or you can put up a sign, or you could even, put a regime into place . Another option is to influence their behaviour, so they won’t do it anymore because they subconsciously realise it is not worth the risk.

This method is also known as BRI (Behavioural Risk Improvement). It is not something that is done in a short matter of time, and depending on the existing culture within a company, may take up form 5 to 10 years to come to full result. But it is , I’m convinced , a huge step in changing your safety culture, and through that, a long term investment in getting the number of accidents and incidents down . What in effect is happening is that staff change they way they are doing things as a daily routine and thereby reducing the chance of a risky situation occurring. ( Create an elephant path inside your brain).
And all this not by enforcing but by changing the way they do things in a natural way.

It would take too long to explain how to set up such a program in your company, but more info can be obtained via the editors, if so desired.

Patrick Schoenmaker  | Linkedin