Called WASP, for Work Area Safety Process, the program is designed to change at-risk behavior on the job and is based on observation, feedback and review. Trained employee observers watch other employees as they perform their jobs. Using an observation worksheet, they look at critical behavior areas such as work procedures, work environment, body movement and the use of personal protective equipment. Members of the WASP steering committee regularly review the observation worksheets to spot trends and, if necessary, develop action plans, which might include workplace or behavior changes or additional safety training. Currently the mill has nearly 70 trained observers out of a work force of approximately 550 people.
All new hires go through training to become observers.
We can make WASP second nature, a part of the job. The ultimate goal of Plattsburgh's behavioral based safety training is self-observation, says Jim Kelley, the mill's safety manager. We want employees to become so familiar with at-risk behavior on the job that they are able to step outside themselves and recognize when they are putting themselves at risk and automatically modify their behavior before it results in an accident.