STEP Introduction

August 2019
What is STEP?
Definition
• Safety towards empowerment of people is a behaviour based safety method of using observation,
positive and corrective feedback to change unsafe individual workplace behaviours that causes
unnecessary exposure to possible injury, property damage, process loss, or harm to the environment
and reinforce safe behaviours.
• Is a daily safety behaviour method that continuously focuses people’s attention and actions on theirs
and others.

• It is a safety observation related to the behaviour of a colleague or contractor where the observation:

- is related to safe or unsafe behaviour (not unsafe conditions or facilities)

- provides immediate feedback to the colleague or contractor
- is documented-

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What is Unsafe Act?
Definition
• Unsafe act is an intentional or unintentional violation of an established safe work practice, procedure or
method.
• Unsafe acts result from people’s behaviour (human factor) and attitudes e.g. not following safe work
procedures, inappropriate use of equipment, not wearing PPE.
• So, it naturally follows that if we can reduce the number of Unsafe Acts that occur in the workplace, we
will also significantly reduce the number of accidents.
• By adopting a behavioural approach to safety which must be used in conjunction with traditional control
measures the human factor and therefore unsafe acts can be effectively addressed i.e. behavioural
safety approach.
• Unsafe acts are recognised as the key causes of most accidents.
• The most common causes of unsafe acts can be due to the following categories
1. safe work methods are known but are not followed e.g. not wearing PPE, correct manual
handling/lifting techniques are not used
2. lack of knowledge e.g. main sources of which are inexperience, poor or insufficient job training,
performing jobs you are not trained, authorised or certified to carry out.

Never walk past an unsafe act!!! 3

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What are the Aims and Benefits?
Aims and Benefits

The aims of STEP are:

• to Intervene to reinforce safe behaviour or change unsafe behaviour or conditions
• to recognizing both safe and at-risk behaviour
• not fault finding – it is a way to take care of others

The benefits of STEP include:

• the focus of attention and recognition on both safe and unsafe behaviours
• the opportunity to enable all colleagues to make a contribution toward safety
• fostering of open communication about safety issues
• a constant reminder of workplace safety

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Confidential | © 2017 by Epiroc. All rights reserved.
Workplace Observation Objectives
Positive dialogue
Creating / Maintaining a safe Workplace through positive dialogue between observers &
the observed
• Positive dialogue will only be established if we communicate openly and at same
level:
• Recognition of safe behavior,
• Openness and trust (confidence, honesty)
• Cooperative learning
• Shared identification of hazards and safe work methods

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Confidential | © 2017 by Epiroc. All rights reserved.
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