Strengthen your safety culture with effective BBS observations
Behaviour Based Safety Observation and a structured Behaviour Based Safety Checklist help organisations see beyond incidents to understand the actions that drive safety performance. Together, they enable you to identify trends, reinforce positive behaviours, and strengthen your workplace safety culture.
Behaviour Based Safety Observation
A Behaviour Based Safety Observation (BBS Observation) is a proactive method used to identify, record, and improve employee safety behaviours at work. It focuses on observing how tasks are performed, recognising safe actions, and correcting unsafe practices through positive feedback and coaching. By turning observations into insights, organisations can strengthen their safety culture, reduce incidents, and encourage shared responsibility for workplace safety.
Why use a Behaviour Based Safety Observation Checklist?
A behaviour based safety observation helps you understand how people actually work – not just what the procedure says. Using a structured BBS checklist, observers can note safe and unsafe behaviours, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
This practical tool helps teams:
- Promote proactive h&s culture and accountability
- Identify recurring patterns in unsafe acts or near misses
- Support Safety leadership training and employee engagement
- Turn observations into actionable safety improvements
BBS observation checklists make data-driven safety decisions possible, transforming safety from a compliance task into a shared responsibility.
Our free Behaviour Based Safety Checklist is designed by Consultivo experts based on years of field experience across industries.
Use it to:
- Conduct effective safety behaviour observation rounds
- Record key actions, conditions, and at-risk behaviours
- Analyse trends from multiple BBS observations
- Support internal bbs safety training and coaching
👉 Download your free BBS Observation Checklist now and start building a safer, more engaged workplace.
What’s inside the BBS Checklist
Your downloadable checklist includes:
- Observation categories (e.g. PPE use, ergonomics, equipment handling)
- Rating scales for safe/unsafe acts
- Space for observer notes and corrective actions
- Section for safety feedback and learning points
This behaviour based safety checklist can be used for on-site audits, toolbox talks, or digital BBS data collection.
Benefits of Behaviour Based Safety Observations
Regular BBS observations help you:
- Improve worker awareness and participation
- Build a strong behaviour based safety culture
- Provide measurable insights for safety surveys and performance reviews
- Complement other programmes like safety culture survey and behaviour based safety training
When effectively implemented, BBS observations lead to fewer incidents, improved morale, and long-term safety excellence.
What is Behaviour Based Safety (BBS)?
Behaviour Based Safety (BBS) is a proactive approach to managing workplace safety. It focuses on how people behave while working and uses observation, feedback, and positive reinforcement to encourage safer actions. Grounded in behavioural science, BBS recognises that most incidents happen due to unsafe behaviours rather than unsafe conditions alone.
A well-designed BBS programme helps employees take ownership of their safety and that of their peers. It encourages regular BBS observations, open conversations, and continuous improvement across teams. Using structured behaviour based safety checklists, organisations can identify patterns, find root causes, and take action before risks escalate.
Key Elements of Behaviour Based Safety
- Antecedent–Behaviour–Consequence (ABC) Model: Understand what triggers a behaviour and how consequences influence future actions.
- Balanced Reinforcement: Apply a well-planned mix of positive and corrective reinforcement — recognise safe actions, address unsafe ones constructively, and ensure every feedback leads to learning and improvement.
- Employee Involvement: Engage workers in peer observations, open discussions, and feedback loops to build shared responsibility.
- Data-Driven Decisions: Use observation data to identify behaviour patterns, predict risks, and guide continuous safety improvement.
A thoughtfully designed behaviour based safety process blends encouragement, accountability, and data insight — building a stronger, self-sustaining h&s culture.
Related Resources
- Behavioral based safety ppt – for awareness and toolbox sessions
- BBS safety training – tailor-made for supervisors and teams
- Safety leadership training – build proactive leadership in safety
- Safety surveys and safety culture survey tools – measure and improve engagement
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a BBS Observation?
A BBS observation involves watching and recording employee behaviour to identify safe and unsafe actions. The goal is to reinforce positive behaviours and correct risky ones – creating a sustainable behaviour based safety culture.
How often should BBS observations be conducted?
Ideally, BBS observations should be carried out regularly – weekly or monthly, depending on the risk level of the operation. Consistency helps maintain engagement and track progress in safety behaviour observation trends.
Who should use the Behaviour Based Safety Checklist?
Anyone involved in safety – from frontline supervisors to HSE managers – can use this checklist. It’s particularly useful during behaviour based safety training or as part of Safety leadership training programmes.
Start your journey towards a stronger safety culture
Strengthen your organisation’s h&s culture with actionable insights from real workplace observations.
Download the BBS Observation Checklist now and start improving your behaviour based safety performance today.
👉 [Download the Free Checklist]
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About the author
CEO & Chief Mentor, Consultivo
Saikat Basu is a long-time sustainability and risk management professional and entrepreneur. He is having a diversified exposure to various management practices in the areas of strategic leadership, organisation excellence, financial management and people engagement.
He has worked intensively with 200+ national and international standards on responsible business. He is a member of several sustainability (SHE Award, Environmental Excellence, Social Impact) award programme design & jury committee. He is a passionate blogger and visiting faculty in academics.
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