The S.O.S. Behavioral Observation System© is a peer-to-peer process designed to reduce incidents caused by at-risk employee Behavior.

During the Hazard Identification Process, hazards are recognized and correct employee behavior is determined to eliminate or mitigate these hazards. The S.O.S. Behavioral Observation System© is designed to insure that employees "Behave" in this agreed upon manner.  

The S.O.S. Observation Method

Employees are trained how to "Observe" fellow employees (and contractor employees) as they work, and how to "Properly Intervene" when we need to correct an employee's behavior.

Observations are made using the S.O.S. 10 Point System© as a guide. As such, employees are able to observe their workplace systematically, like they planned the job, as opposed to randomly. This insures more quality observations.

The S.O.S. Intervention Process

Once an employee is observed exhibiting at-risk behavior the observing employee is trained to:

• Halt the operation
• Properly remove the observed employee from danger;
• Explain how the observed behavior may result in an incident;
• Discuss with the observed employee what the proper behavior should be;
• Secure an agreement from the observed employee the he/she will perform the job properly in the future;
• Complete an S.O.S. Observation Card© as a tracking device.

Once an employee is observed exhibiting correct behavior (i.e. an employee is about to climb without using fall protection and stops and puts fall protection on, or an employee using a grinder stops and puts on a face shield instead of just safety glasses), the observing employee is trained to:

• Halt the operation;
• Explain to the observed employee what was observed;
• Congratulate the observed employee for behaving properly;
• Agree that similar behavior will continue in the future;
• Complete an S.O.S. Observation Card© as a tracking device.

 

The S.O.S. Behavioral Observation System© contains three elements:

 

 

 

 

The S.O.S. Tracking and Trending Report

The third element of the S.O.S. Behavioral Observation System© is possibly the most vital in shaping employee behavior going forward. We must learn from the type of observations made and disseminate this information to the employees to affect a behavioral change. The process steps are as follows:

• Daily, completed S.O.S. Observation Cards© are collected at each location. The cards are reviewed and important information is discussed at the next pre-shift meeting.

• Weekly, completed S.O.S. Observation Cards© are forwarded to our office to be entered into a custom database;

• Monthly, a report is prepared depicting the type of observations made (proper or at-risk behavior), the type of activities observed (the S.O.S. 10 point System©), and reporting results from previous months to help determine behavioral trends.

• Monthly reports may also be prepared for sub entities such as district or divisional offices, etc.

• Monthly reports are sent electronically to pre-selected managers within the company.

 To view sample reports

"When employees are provided enough information in a useable format that is easily understood, they are more likely to embrace that information and put it to use."