The Client and Its Challenges
Executives at this international chemical manufacturer with multiple facilities were concerned that current safety programs were unable to lower accident frequencies any further. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordable rate at the targeted facility was second highest in the company. Six percent of the workforce had injuries severe enough to be on restricted duty or away from work. Management focus was downstream on incidents, rather than upstream on exploring ways to prevent accidents. At-risk behavior was only managed infrequently through formal disciplinary procedures without positive reinforcement of safe behaviors.

The Risk Consulting Solution
The client engaged Marsh to review the company’s safety program. The Marsh team determined that a behavior-based safety program would create an environment of continuous improvement and would generate both employee and management support.

As part of the core team, hourly employees were trained on Marsh’s behavior risk improvement (BRI) process. Core team members were taught how to observe fellow employees and identify both safe and at-risk behaviors. Team members also were trained on proper ways to provide constructive feedback and positive reinforcement. A measurement system tracked progress and safe behaviors that reached “habit strength” among employees.

At the same time, all levels of management were trained on how they could support safe behaviors, i.e., becoming advocates of the BRI process and offer positive reinforcement around the core team’s activities.

Results
Maintained since 1995, this employee-driven safety process reduced accident frequency and lowered the location’s recordable rate to below 1.0. This facility was the first chemical plant in the state to receive OSHA Star status, which is the highest level of safety and health recognition awarded by the federal agency.