Book Review
The Values-Based Safety Process:
Improving Your Safety Culture
with a Behavioral Approach
2nd Edition
Edited by: Terry McSween. 2003, $94.95.
John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY.
ISBN 0-471-22049-3

Safety professionals who are struggling with a non-cooperative workplace would do well to consider the use of a values based safety process. This book stresses the importance of emphasizing safe behavior, pointing out that the vast majority of workplace accidents are due not to unsafe situations, but rather to unsafe acts. The book's strength is in the information provided on safety assessment systems; these stress the importance of observation, manager support, and follow-up on problems. The text is organized in away that is easy to follow, and it appears that any organization could follow the "blueprint" effectively. Charts and tables are efficiently utilized to support the arguments presented, and there are a number of useful sample schedules and checklists.

The application of behavioral science to safety is stressed throughout the text. The importance of changing company culture is supported by the many case-studies; it's clear that establishing standards and reinforcing them is a key to improving safety. It is especially useful to consider the experiences of DuPont and other major companies which have shown a commitment to safety given the data presented. DuPont's STOP program (Safety Training Observation Program), which utilizes the concept of layered safety audits, is an especially useful model. The book also addresses safety in a small business environment, showing that evaluating the logistics of each facility is the key to implementing behavioral safety culture.

Of all the behavioral concepts presented, perhaps the one that is most enlightening is the philosophy of rewarding safe work as opposed to punishing those who are responsible for accidents. More companies need to recognize the value in assuring that all accidents and "near-misses" are reported; this provides necessary opportunities to improve conditions and fix problems before worse accidents result.

If there is a downside to this book it is in the level of self-promotion by the author. The use of phrases such as "we developed" and "we therefore designed," the inclusion of individual chapter author's names in the book index, and the listing of specific companies with experience in implementing the behavioral safety process are all unusual in textbooks. This can be overlooked, however, given the overall value of the book in promoting behavioral safety.

Reviewed by Russell Phifer in the J. Chem. Health Safety, 2003, 10(6), 34.
Reprinted with permission.