Given the potential for under-reporting and the other negative effects associated with payment schemes based on outcome measures and the lack of evidence of value from them, we recommend that such schemes should not be used in the industry.” This conclusion stated in the Digging Deeper Report regarding mine safety for the New South Wales (NSW) Mine Safety Advisory Council (MSAC), in Australia, at first glance may indicate that safety incentive programs have received a bad grade, but not so! On the contrary, the extensively researched report, that examined all sectors of the NSW mining industry, recommends the primary components of a behavior-based safety incentive process: worker participation in setting goals, management involvement, and recognition of safe behaviors that lead to safe results.

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.