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RiskPerception.co.uk ................................. Behavioural Training Consultants .................................................. People not things cause accidents
"While most engineers are aware of the need for risk assessments in order to reduce risks in the workplace to an acceptable level, many lack the tools required to identify the drivers of
unacceptable behaviour. For this reason Riskperception.co.uk has developed and is successfully delivering training courses that are specifically designed to give attendees the tools they need to
reduce workplace risks"
With the focus on perception of risk and the affecting factors, the course highlights how dangerous complacency in the workplace can be. Nick O'Hara, explains: "Perception is the psychological
function that enables individuals to receive and process information about the environment. Past experiences are stored in the memory and called upon, even subconsciously, when decisions are needed.
The problem though is if past experience does not match the present circumstances then accidental behaviour occurs. We have to identify the real risk. Consider Steve Irwin. He would
crawl through the desert on his belly, turn over a rock and pick up the most poisonous snake known to man. Big scary, risky, work, but we forget, its entertainment and he has probably put it there
after 20 minutes in a fridge or he could have milked the venom out of it, but even if it bites him, then the guy behind the camera has the anti snake serum ready within seconds. He respected the
risk from the crocodiles and knew how to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. A stingray killed him. A bit of a clue in the name, but everyone saw the stingray as an innocuous fish. If
it had been a crocodile in the water rather than a stingray in front of Steve Irwin, he would probably still be alive now. We all take our eyes off the ball. In the training courses, the focus
for accident prevention is not the huge expensive hardware control measures but more on behaviour. We have to make the controls user friendly. I have seen risk assessments and safe working
procedures produced of more than 30 to 40 pages. The first 4 pages were concerned with where to park your car. Their focus then was not to prevent the injury but to accept the injury and
prevent litigation. What are the chances of people reading this? None. Yet on page 19 it states if you press button B you will die! Nobody reads past page 4 or 5. We have to dramatically change
our strategy." Ask yourself if this website was a procedure would you have read this far?
Why do we see the same accidents day after day?
Why is housekeeping so variable?
Why are standards generally variable?
Why do we see the same unsafe acts and conditions?
Why is complacency so evident everywhere?
The definition of insanity is to continue doing what you are doing and expect different results. With this in mind we have developed training programs to suit our customer needs. Weekends, shift work
are all accomodated. Industry operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week, so do we. We are so confident that if you use our services and are not completely amazed at the results achieved we will refund
our fees.
Human factors
Violations + Errors = Accidents
We don't get hurt because we haven't got procedures or even that the procedures are not as good as they could be. We get hurt because we accept deviation from procedures without question
Accidents in the workplace are caused through unsafe acts and unsafe conditions. Indeed, it is people – rather than objects – that cause accidents.
95 per cent of all accidents are triggered by the unsafe behaviours of employees,
Unsafe acts though are a consequence or symptom of the problem, not the problem itself.
According to the HSE, "A suitable and sufficient risk assessment will reflect what is reasonably practicable to expect employees to know about the hazards in their workplace." O'Hara says that any
risk assessment is therefore subject to the 'perception of risk' of the individuals undertaking the assessment: "The presented information is the same for everyone, but an individual's perception
differs to a surprising degree. With these differences in perception, it can be very difficult to have a consistent approach to the risks the workforce are presented with and therefore to the
controls to reduce these risks to an acceptable level.
Perception of risk
"Our training for risk assessment deals with the perception of risk and behaviour. This takes into account the physical environment, psychological characteristics, needs, motives, goals, past
experiences and social and cultural backgrounds. All of these factors affect people's behaviour."
Risk assessments for too long have focussed on prescriptive controls placed upon our employees with little or no explanation as to why. If we educate personnel about why the controls are in force,
and the consequences of their actions then compliance is greatly increased. If we are to make a real difference to our accident statistics we have to approach the controls from a different
perspective.
We are so confident in the effectiveness of our package that our first consultancy is free of charge. If any additional information required please contact us
Nick O'Hara
3 The Rise
Bottersford
Scunthorpe
North Lincolnshire DN17 2SL
Phone: +44 (0) 1724 349897
Mobile 07446863769
E-mail:info@riskperception.co.uk
Other training courses are available please contact for more details
Perception is the psychological function that enables individuals to receive and process information about their environment. Past experiences are called upon even if it is subconsciously, when
decisions are needed, but if the present circumstances do not match the past experiences then accidental behaviour occurs.
info@riskperception.co.uk
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