Behaviour-based safety observations (BBOs) explained for contractors, how to run them without pushback and improve safety fast. Free Safety Assessment.
If you’re a contractor, you already know the truth: most incidents don’t happen because “we didn’t have a binder.” They happen because the way work gets done in the field drifts from the way we think it’s getting done.
That’s exactly what Behaviour-Based Observations are for.
A good BBO program gives you real visibility into what’s happening on your jobsites, before it turns into an incident, an OSHA issue, or a GC conversation you don’t want to have.
And if you want a fast way to see whether your observation process is set up to actually work (not become another form nobody completes), book a free Safety Assessment. We’ll pinpoint the 1–2 changes that make BBOs stick in the field and become useful data you can act on.
Behaviour-based safety observations are a structured way to watch work as it’s actually happening and capture:
what people are doing safely (so it gets reinforced)
where at-risk behaviours show up (so you can coach and remove barriers)
whether training and procedures are actually being applied on site
Think of BBOs as the bridge between “paper safety” and “field reality.”
When done properly, BBOs help you move from reactive safety (fixing things after an incident) to proactive safety (catching drift before it hurts someone).
If you’ve tried BBOs before and didn’t get buy-in, you’re not alone.
The first time many crews experience a BBO, it feels like:
someone is trying to catch them doing something wrong
someone is collecting “rat cards”
someone is adding paperwork with no payoff
That’s why the success of a behaviour-based safety program is less about the form and more about the message:
“This is not discipline. This is how we make the job easier to do safely.”
If you don’t nail that “why,” the program turns into box-checking or avoidance.
My name is David Brennan, and I am a Safety professional and the CEO of Safety Evolution. In this video, I will share some of the challenges I faced, some tips and tricks on how to get started or move your Behaviour-Based Safety Observation Program to the next level.
A behaviour-based observation program is not:
a surveillance program
a fault-finding exercise
a way to embarrass people in front of the crew
a “gotcha” card that becomes discipline
If workers believe BBOs are punishment, they’ll either stop participating or game the system—then your data becomes useless.
BBOs only work when they’re positioned as coaching, learning, and removing barriers.
BBOs work best as a team effort, but the people performing observations need basic training in how to do them properly.
Strong options include:
supervisors and foremen (because they set the standard on site)
safety leads/coordinators (to coach and trend the data)
trained workers (peer-to-peer can work well when trust is high)
The key isn’t job title. It’s whether the observer can:
communicate clearly
ask good questions
keep the interaction respectful
follow through on fixes
If you want, we can tell you who should own BBOs in your company (and how many is realistic) during a free Safety Assessment.
Here’s the simplest flow we recommend for contractors:
Tell the crew what’s happening and why - No surprises. Let workers know BBOs are meant to improve the job—not blame people.
Ask permission and be human - “Mind if I watch this task for a minute? I’m looking for what’s working and what’s getting in the way.”
Observe the task, not the person - Focus on conditions and behaviours tied to risk: setup, access, line-of-fire, PPE use, housekeeping, tool condition, etc.
Reinforce what’s going right first - This is the difference between buy-in and shutdown.
Ask one or two open-ended questions
“What’s the biggest hazard here today?”
“What makes it hard to do this the safest way?”
“If a new guy walked into this task, what would you warn him about?”
Agree on one improvement that actually gets done - Not a 12-item list nobody closes. One fix, owned by someone, with a timeline.
Close the loop - If workers never see improvements from observations, participation drops fast.
If your current issue is “we do observations, but nothing changes,” book the free Safety Assessment. We’ll show you how to build a simple corrective action loop that actually gets closed.
If you want your BBO program to produce useful data, focus on observations tied to your highest-risk work.
fall hazards (leading edges, holes, access, harness use, anchor selection)
ladders (setup, angle, three points of contact, top-step use)
line-of-fire (pinch points, suspended loads, backing vehicles, swinging materials)
housekeeping (trip hazards, cords/hoses, material storage)
PPE compliance (eye protection, gloves, face shields, hearing protection)
tool use (guards in place, condition, correct tool for the task)
lifting and ergonomics (awkward lifts, pinch points, team lifts)
mobile equipment zones (spotters, exclusion zones, pedestrian paths)
If you’re collecting BBOs but not using the information, crews will see it as pointless.
Track simple leading indicators:
top repeated at-risk behaviours (by task type)
top repeated safe behaviours (what’s working)
trends by project, crew, or phase
corrective actions raised vs. closed
recurring barriers (missing tools, bad access, time pressure, unclear procedure)
For KPI help: Creating Safety Key Performance Indicators That Build a Safe Workplace
Behaviour-based safety observations work when they’re easy to do and the results lead to real improvements.
Most contractors struggle because:
the form is too heavy
the data never gets reviewed
corrective actions don’t get tracked
the program lives with one person instead of the team
We help you set up a field-friendly approach:
simple observation format
practical categories tied to your work
a repeatable follow-up system
proof that’s easy to pull when someone asks
If you want us to pinpoint the 1–2 changes that will make the biggest difference for your team (without adding admin), book your free 15–20 minute Safety Assessment here.
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