The key word here is “outcome.” Those conducting this in-depth study of the usefulness of Safety Incentive Schemes went on to make important discoveries that support the validity of safety incentives processes that reward “leading” behaviors as opposed to “lagging results.” In short, their cease-and-desist recommendations apply only to safety approaches that reward outcomes such as low accident and injury rates—rewards that promote injury hiding. In their own words, “  . . the ideal safety incentive scheme provides recognition for high achievement and contribution, not payment in exchange for low levels of reported injuries, however defined.” By recommending a shift from “a focus on outcome data to a focus on improvement and contribution,” the folks down under have made a major first step in endorsing and embracing behavior-based safety incentives that will make a positive and lasting difference in mine industry safety.

The key word here is “outcome.” Those conducting this in-depth study of the usefulness of Safety Incentive Schemes went on to make important discoveries that support the validity of safety incentives processes that reward “leading” behaviors as opposed to “lagging results.” In short, their cease-and-desist recommendations apply only to safety approaches that reward outcomes such as low accident and injury rates—rewards that promote injury hiding. In their own words, “ . . the ideal safety incentive scheme provides recognition for high achievement and contribution, not payment in exchange for low levels of reported injuries, however defined.”

By recommending a shift from “a focus on outcome data to a focus on improvement and contribution,” the folks down under have made a major first step in endorsing and embracing behavior-based safety incentives that will make a positive and lasting difference in mine industry safety.