Remember Herbert Heinrich's accident pyramid? It illustrates the ratio between the number of unsafe acts and the number of injuries of varying severity, up to and including fatalities. At the base of the pyramid lie countless unsafe acts that we may commit subconsciously, both at work and in our daily lives.
Why do employees in production commit unsafe acts? Researchers identify four groups of causes:
A. Incompetence or 'Lacks the skill' — this means the worker does not possess the necessary knowledge for the job; they have not mastered the relevant skills, methods, or techniques. This refers to errors — unintentional violations due to ignorance of the operational sequence, inability to correctly diagnose emerging malfunctions and hazardous situations, or a lack of automatic skills and actions in a dangerous situation.
B. Motivation or 'Lacks the will' — meaning the worker knows how to perform the job (operation) safely and with high quality, but has no desire to comply with safety requirements. In other words, there is no motivation or psychological mindset to follow these requirements. A worker might do this to save effort, because they have become accustomed to danger, do not consider hazardous equipment as such, or due to impunity and a negative attitude towards safety within the team (to avoid standing out). This also includes a propensity for risk-taking and overestimating one's own experience.
C. State or 'Lacks the ability' — this means the worker is in a physical or psychological state where, despite having the skill and the desire, they commit an unsafe act.
D. Environment or 'Lacks the provision' — the worker fails to perform the prescribed action because they are not provided with the necessary tools, PPE, materials, instruments, information, etc., required for safe work.
The first three groups of causes (A, B, C) are determined by the individual and personal characteristics (qualities) of the worker. We are accustomed to calling these causes the human factor. The fourth group of causes (D) is a factor external to the worker; in other words, it is the work environment in which the worker's activities take place.
Now let us turn to the concept of “safe labor.” Safe labor is an activity in which safe working conditions are ensured, the worker acts purposefully and safely both when performing work operations and when hazardous situations arise, and the worker's physical and psychological state remains within the norm.
We have considered four groups of causes for workers' unsafe acts:
1) lacks the skill; 2) lacks the will; 3) lacks the ability; 4) lacks the provision.
Obviously, for safe labor to occur, these causes must be eliminated. Thus, the formula of necessary and sufficient conditions for a worker's safe labor can be presented as follows:
Safe Labor = Skilled + Willing + Able + Provided.
That is: the worker possesses professional knowledge and masters the skills, methods, and techniques relevant to the profession (position, work performed). They have developed a psychological mindset to comply with safety requirements and have formed positive motivation (I do this to preserve my health and my life). They are physically capable and mentally fit. They are provided for, meaning that sanitary, hygienic, and technical working conditions meet HSE requirements.
One can and must work with each of the considered causes of unsafe acts. To understand how to change behavior, it is necessary to influence the cause of unsafe behavior in a specific way (through dialogue, training, and communication).
For example, like this:
| Lacks the skill | teach knowledge and skills |
| train | |
| provide internships | |
| instruct | |
| verify and monitor behavior (BBS) | |
| Lacks the will | verify and monitor behavior (BBS) |
| form "correct" HSE mindsets | |
| incentivize | |
| motivate | |
| study risk propensity | |
| Lacks the ability | study predisposition to unsafe acts |
| conduct medical examinations | |
| carry out preventive and rehabilitative measures | |
| Lacks the provision | provide necessary tools and equipment |
| organize the necessary workplace setup (in accordance with requirements) | |
| streamline information flows, provide information about work hazards, etc. |
At the same time, it is important to correctly identify the group of causes that leads a specific worker to commit systemic unsafe acts, and to direct efforts toward eliminating that cause. When speaking of systemic unsafe acts (in a structural unit, for example), we first analyze what causes recurring unsafe acts among a group of workers and work comprehensively with a focus on that cause.