Behavioural approach changing safety attitudes

In this chapter we have discussed the rationale for the need for change from a traditional approach to safety management at work to a behaviour-based approach. In the following chapter we discuss in more depth some of the problems involved in using the concepts of attitude and personality as an explanation of behaviour and introduce the notion of risk perception. In Chapter 3 we move on to present the theoretical background to the behavioural approach, before describing its application to safety in Chapter 4. 

It is more effective to concentrate on behaviour rather than personality or attitudes. Most safety improvement initiatives focus on changing people s attitudes because of the assumption that attitudes cause behaviours and can be changed. However, there is considerable evidence to show that attitudes have an uncertain link with behaviour. So - this approach just focuses on behaviour. 

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