A perennial challenge for organisations and firms around the globe is that of how best to decrease accidents and reduce injury rates. Over the long term, the traditional methods have served industry well and delivered significant injury reductions. However, the law of diminishing returns applies, and companies find that, at a certain point, improvements begin to tail off and performance plateaus.
More than 3,000 organisations across 60 countries and counting have found that the SafeStart programme has provided the leap forward that has long been needed.
This success stems from the simple application of proven neuroscience-based tools and techniques.
Minimising Injury
The traditional approach to safety focuses on the hazard in question; SafeStart however trains its focus on the state of mind and body of the individual concerned. This reorientation turns the spotlight on four states: Rushing, Frustration, Fatigue and Complacency, any of which may cause or contribute to four critical errors:
- Eyes not on Task;
- Mind not on Task;
- Line-of-Fire; and
- Balance, Traction, Grip.
This state-leading-to-error pattern is responsible for causing over nine in every ten injuries suffered by people in their working and personal lives.
One of the key goals of our SafeStart training sessions is leading participants towards a recognition of these state-to-error patterns and how they can lead to risk and injury.
By awakening participants to the power of this state-to-error risk pattern, the way is opened for techniques and skills to be taught that significantly reduce these injury-causing errors.
The SafeStart Difference
An alert attitude that keeps appropriate hazards both in sight and in mind as a situation evolves, especially at the point of elevated risk, is the clear goal. Procedures, policies and the understanding of specific hazards are essential but the experiential state of the human being at the heart of the situation is also critical.
In a nutshell, SafeStart heightens each individual’s all-round awareness of risky situations, and gives them techniques that work to keep them safer automatically and in real-time.
Simply knowing of a hazard’s existence is no help to a person who is distracted or looking away. SafeStart identifies when injury-causing errors are likeliest and builds the skills needed to pre-empt negative outcomes.
Making Safety Sustainable
A sustainability plan is necessary if a permanent improvement in safety standards is to be made: this goal requires the consolidation of training efforts to convert short-term error reduction into a long-term culture that quashes risky errors. To this end, the first training engagement is followed up with sustainability options such as:
- Advanced modules that apply SafeStart concepts and techniques to wider safety problems
- Modules applying SafeStart to other areas of human error such as quality, productivity and customer service
- Behavioural feedback and observation
- Training of supervisors and support for peer-to-peer dialogue
- Tailored induction for contractors and new staff
- Integration into existing safety management systems
- Resources for communication and on-site signage
- Ongoing success assessments and coaching where needed.
We will collaborate with your organisation to develop a two-to-four year plan that guarantees sustainability and long-term change.
This three-minute video explores how vital it is to address the ‘Human Factor’ for any organisation serious about achieving and maintaining a zero-injury rate.
