Effectiveness of behaviour based safety interventions to reduce accidents and injuries in workplaces: critical appraisal and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Behaviour-based safety (BBS) is one of the promising methods implemented in industry to reduce the incidence of accidents and injuries. Researchers have reported diverse BBS applications in various industries. The diversity of applications and results reveals a need for systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the overall effectiveness of BBS to improve workers' safety and health. Objective: To quantitatively assess the effectiveness of behaviour-based safety (BBS) interventions in reducing accidents and injury occurrence in occupational settings. Methods: A critical appraisal was conducted to assess the methodological quality of study. A meta-analysis was also performed to identify the direction and size of the effect. Results: Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria with a poor to marginal methodological quality. Eight studies achieved a statistically significant reduction in accidents/injuries after conducting a BBS intervention. The overall metaSAR (0.60, 95% CI 0.72-0.97) displayed a statistical significance in reducing accidents/injuries. Conclusions: A statistically significant reduction in injuries/accidents was observed after conducting a BBS intervention in a workplace. However, this statistical significance should be interpreted with caution, due to the poor to marginal methodological quality of studies included in the meta-analysis. Reliable results require interventions with high methodological quality based on the specific needs of the workplace.

Multilevel Safety Intervention Implementation Strategies for Nigeria Construction Industry

“…The study further reveals that other approaches such as group problem solving, government action, management audits, stress management, poster campaign, personnel selection, and near-miss reporting have an average accident reduction that ranged from 20% to 0%. Though recent studies [44,51] have advocated for an integrated approach, Guastello's findings were affirmed by [60][61][62]. This means that Behaviour-Based Safety (BBS) is attracting more attention across industry sectors globally, with its numerous advantages [63].…”

The Implementation and Maintenance of a Behavioral Safety Process in a Petroleum Refinery

“…The behavioral safety literature is replete with experimental studies and empirical demonstrations that have used these components, either in isolation or as package interventions, to improve the safety of work practices and reduce accidents and injuries (see DeJoy, 2005;Grindle, Dickinson, & Boettcher, 2000;McAfee and Winn, 1989;Sulzer-Azaroff & Austin, 2000 for qualitative reviews and Guastello, 1993;Krause, Seymour, & Sloat, 1999;Tuncel, Lotlikar, Salem, & Daraiseh, 2006 for a meta-analysis).…”

An Assessment Model of Safety Production Management Based on Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Method and Behavior‐Based Safety

“…Fuzzy theory has a unique effect in dealing with these issues [26]. Fuzzy set theory has been applied in many systems in recent scientific research [27,28]. Therefore, in this study an evaluation model of safety production management levels based on BBS is established using fuzzy theory [17,29] and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP).…”