Effective Goal Setting for Measuring Results When Transitioning from a Reactive to a Proactive Level

From a Reactive Approach to Conscious Safety

The transition from reactive HSE management to a proactive one is not just a change in metrics, but a transformation of every employee's mindset. During the "Goals and Systematization" session, Anna Voronkova, Health, Safety and Environment Manager at Heineken, explains how proper goal setting and KPI selection help an organization move along the Bradley curve: from instinctive rule compliance to an interdependent culture where safety becomes an internal value.

Reactive and Proactive Metrics: What is the Difference?

Using an iceberg as an example, the speaker shows how safety metrics are distributed. Reactive indicators (accidents, micro-injuries, occupational diseases) are just the tip, reflecting what has already happened. Proactive indicators are the underwater part, aimed at preventing incidents.

• Reactive metrics: number of lost workdays, incidents, micro-injuries. It is important not to hide them, but to use them to find root causes.
• Proactive metrics: percentage of checklist compliance, medical examination results, special assessment of working conditions, audits, risk assessments, recording of unsafe conditions and actions.

How to Properly Change the Set of Metrics

The presentation details the algorithm for working with metrics based on the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle. The speaker suggests the following route:

• Analysis of the current situation: recording all deviations and identifying problem areas (e.g., traffic accidents, working with contractors, falling from heights).
• Focus on the main things: selecting the top 3 critical areas for development to avoid dispersing resources.
• Setting proactive KPIs: specific metrics are formulated for each problem area (e.g., the percentage of compliance with the contractor work standard or the number of identified unsafe conditions).
• Evaluating effectiveness: regular status monitoring and adjustment of actions.

Evolution of Metrics Along the Bradley Curve

The speaker emphasizes that the set of metrics must correspond to the company's maturity level. You cannot move to complex behavioral metrics without building a basic foundation.

• Reactive level: focus on basic requirements (accidents, special assessment of working conditions, medical examinations, training).
• Dependent level: adding inspections, audits, recording unsafe conditions, and near-misses.
• Independent level: working with awareness, tracking unsafe behavior and morbidity.

Engagement Tools and Digitalization

A reliable data collection system is necessary for successful metric management. You can start with simple Excel spreadsheets, gradually moving to specialized IT solutions. In addition, Anna notes the importance of adapting training formats for different audiences: from classic instructions to one-point lessons (OPL) and short animated videos, which are especially effective for engaging young employees.

What you will learn from this webinar:

• How to choose the right proactive metrics to reduce injury rates?
• Why is it important to focus on only 3 key problems at a time?
• How to adapt KPIs to the company's current safety culture level?
• What training formats work best for engaging employees of different generations?
• How to build a data collection system for analyzing HSE metrics?