The implementation and evaluation of a behaviour-based safety intervention at an iron ore mine

Abstract

It is estimated that workers worldwide suffer 250 million accidents each year, with 330 000 fatalities. This is despite the implementation of traditional safety interventions like safety engineering. Little emphasis has thus far been placed on behavioural interventions to improve safety culture and performance in the workplace. The aim of this study was to determine to what extent the safety culture and safety performance in an iron ore mine were affected by the implementation of a behaviour-based safety intervention. A longitudinal design was used. The sample consisted of 562 employees of an iron ore mine. The results showed that the implementation of the safety intervention brought about an improvement in the safety culture at the mine, and positively impacted on the number of lost-time injuries.