Checklists, safety observation examples

Note The approach discussed in this chapter is based on Sulzer-Azaroff and Fellner (1984). We encourage you to read the original article, which includes an excellent example of a well-designed safety observation checklist from a paper mill. 

Figure 9.4. Example of format for a department-specific safety observation checklist. (Adapted from Quebecor World Hazelton. Used with permission.)...

Figure 19.1. Example of a self-observation checklist (safety index) for loggers.

Example of a Hawthorne Threat A work-site decides to implement and evaluate a new training program focused on changing safety practices by providing feedback to employees. A consultant examines injuiy records and, with the help of workers and supervisors, develops a checklist of safety practices. The list will be used by the consultant to observe the work force and provide feedback to the employees about their practices. The consultant realizes that his presence (and the taking of observations) could make workers change their normal behavior. To avoid this potential Hawthorne effect, he makes baseline observations on a daily basis until his presence seems to no longer create a reaction and the observations become constant [p. 25]. 

Data collection Originally the data were collected on pro-forma sheets and returned to a central point. Eventually a computer program was written which enabled the observers to enter their results directly on to the shop-floor terminals of the site s computer. Thus the calculations and results could be generated quickly and accurately. Access to the information was improved and a data bank of past phases led to an improvement in checklist generation and feedback. For example, it was possible to identify specific items on a checklist in terms of most safe and least safe behaviour. In this way, by discussions and problem solving sessions, the workforce could concentrate their efforts on the behaviours in most need of safety improvement. These were produced as bar charts and displayed, in colour, beside the feedback charts (see Figure 4.2). 

Observe safety practices in work areas Safe and unsafe work practices Use as examples in draft safety checklists and trainmg materials... 

Figure 9.3 shows the back of the checkhst in Figure 9.2. You need to provide the observers with clear operational definitions of the safety practices that you are targeting on your checklist. Your definitions should include a pinpointed description of the practices on the front of your checklist (see the section on pinpointing in Chapter 21). The pinpointed definitions should include examples, and whenever...

An easy way to develop this work observation checklist is to take each individual work task and subdivide it into its safety components. An example of this is as follows ... 

The acronym "SOON" depicted in Figure 8.8 reviews the key aspects of developing adequate definitions of critical behaviors to target for a DO IT process. You are ready for the observation phase when you have a checklist of critical behaviors with definitions that are Specific, Observable, Objective, and Naturalistic. We have already considered most of the characteristics of behavioral definitions implied by these key words, and examples of behavioral checklists are provided later in this chapter, as well as in Chapter 12 on "safety coaching."... 

---