This paper is about myths, misconceptions and wrongheaded ideas regarding behavior-based safety. Over the years the author has had opportunities to work with many different types of organizations in different industries and countries. This work has centered around finding innovative ways to continuously improve safety performance. The author has written several books on this subject and many articles.
Since the late 70's, the author has also been to many professional development conferences and heard a variety of talks on the subject of behavior-based methodology, in relation to safety as well as other performance areas. Many articles have been written on this subject and the author has followed them carefully.
Across this period of time the author has seen a number of important misconceptions about behavior-based safety. Some of these constitute barriers that stand in the way of the optimal use of behavior-based methodology. This paper will 1) identify what these myths and misconceptions are, 2) articulate the ways in which they are detrimental, 3) explicate relevant issues that underlie them and 4) provide solutions.
The myths, misconceptions and wrong-headed ideas that will be discussed in this paper are shown in Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 2. Before discussing these myths and misconceptions, it may be useful to discuss their sources, that is, how is it that such wrong-headed notions get into the mainstream and become taken as having even partial validity?
It is interesting to consider why the conventional wisdom (on many subjects) is usually wrong. Consider your own experience. Take an area in which you have first-hand knowledge based on personal experience and or scientific knowledge. Have you had the experience of reading articles in the popular press or hearing talks at conferences on that subject? Are you usually impressed with the accuracy and clarity with which the material is presented? Or is it your experience that usually the information is miscast, misunderstood, maligned, mischaracterized or distorted?
My experience, and that of many colleagues that I have discussed this with, is that more often than not, information presented in the popular and technical press, and less so but still significantly at professional conferences, suffers from very serious distortion. Most of the time when I have read articles and heard people talk about a subject that I had personal knowledge of, I have found that what is conveyed is less profound insight into the subject and more misinformation. Why is it this way?
