Page 185 - HA Convention 2015

Service Priorities and Programmes Free Papers

SPP7.1 Committed and Happy Staff 13:15 Room 221

Eliminating Unsafe Acts at Work — Behaviour-based Safety Programme
Chan Y, Cheung CY, Sin YC
Occupational Safety and Health Team, Kowloon East Cluster, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong

Introduction

Human factor is one of the essential elements affecting safety performance in a workplace. Heinrich’s Accident Triangle
described that every 300 unsafe acts may result in 29 minor injuries and one serious injury. Accident analysis in Kowloon
East Cluster (KEC) revealed that about 84% of injuries in 2013 were related to unsafe acts. Unsafe acts like taking shortcut
on work procedures, non-compliance to safety rules, and poor attitude on handling trolleys/carts/wheelchairs/beds are
commonly seen. KEC initiated a Behaviour-based Safety Programme (BBS) which means to sustain improvement in safety
performance by identifying and defining critical safety-related behaviour, through onsite observations and numeral feedback
directly between frontline and supervisors, thus turning risky behaviours to safe ones.

Objectives

(1) To enhance colleagues’ competence in implementing BBS programme, and (2) to reduce staff injury rate by reducing
unsafe acts at work.

Methodology Tuesday, 19 May

Unit supervisors are responsible for occupational, patient and public safety in the premises. BBS training programme
was launched in KEC in the first quarter of 2014 so that participants could be able to identify critical safety-related
behaviours through causative analysis of injury in their units, colleagues’ feedbacks and onsite observations, followed by a
comprehensive observation exercise. 89 colleagues from 49 units completed the training. The frequency of safe acts versus
unsafe acts of the critical behaviour was then charted, analysed, and communicated to all staff of the participating units.
Objectives such as achievement of higher compliance rate, elimination of risky acts, improvement in facilities, establishment
or adjustment of safety guidelines, and provision of training have been agreed with staff. A three-month (second quarter of
2014) onsite observation was followed to assess if the desirable behaviours could be ensured. 84 BBS projects targeting on
removing/reducing KEC’s major hazards like manual handling operation (61%), sharp injury (30%), and slips, trips, and fall (7%)
have been conducted. The compliance rate for safe acts and injury on duty (IOD) rate before and after the programme were
compared.

Results

The average compliance rate of the safe acts increased from 90% (ranging from 63% to 100%) to 99% (ranging from 94% to
100%). Monthly average IOD rate was decreased by 6% (0.374 from January to December 2013 vs. 0.352 from September to
December 2014). The programme facilitated effective staff supervisory and helped align standards and values in occupational
safety and health amongst the department staff. Supervisors and unit staff found the workshop useful and practicable. With
joint effort of users and respective units, safe work behaviour can be ensured.

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