Perception Survey of the Impact of Behaviour Based Safety on Accident Prevention in the Bonny NLNG Construction Project, Nigeria

Abstract

The paper is a perception survey of the impact of behaviour-based safety (BBS) on accident prevention in the Bonny NLNG construction project. It defines BBS as an accident preventive progamme designed to change employees behaviours from “at risk” to “safe” behaviours using both positive and negative reinforcements. The research question addressed the extent at which reduction of workers at-risk behaviours and accident rate is dependent on the implementation of behaviour-based safety programme in the Bonny NLNG construction project. It assumes that majority of work related accidents are caused by workers at-risk behaviours which can be reduced through behaviour modification. An exploratory cross-sectional employees’ perception survey was used in conducting the study, using questionnaire administered on 384 randomly selected employees of the ten construction companies involved in the Bonny NLNG construction project. The questionnaire responses were presented using tables, analyzed using simple percentages while formulated hypotheses were tested using chi-square (χ2).The results indicated that the implementation of behaviour-based safety programme in the Bonny NLNG construction project to a large extent reduced workers at-risk behaviours and accident rate. The research concludes that reduction in workers at-risk behaviours and accident rate is dependent on the implementation of behaviour-based safety programme in the Bonny NLNG construction project. It therefore recommends among others: a continuous review of employees behaviour reinforcement techniques, encouragement of workers to observe/correct each other’s at-risk behaviours, provision of extensive training for B-Safe observers and continuous commitment of management/workers to the elimination of at-risk behaviours in the workplace.