Citation

Ramsey JD, Burford CL, Beshir MY. Int. J. Ind. Ergonomics 1986; 1(1): 21-28.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper describes a classification system or taxonomy of unsafe worker behaviors which can be used to provide a means of systematically categorizing the behavioral activities that potentially precede an accident.The taxonomy was evaluated in two industrial plants which contained a wide variety of industrial work tasks. The data were collected, using safety sampling procedures, over a 14 month period. Approximately 90% of the observations of worker behaviors were safe and only about 10% were classified as unsafe. About 73% of the unsafe worker behaviors were related to the worker, 22% were related to tools, equipment, or materials, and about 5% were related to materials handling equipment.The taxonomy and associated sampling techniques were successfully used to identify unsafe worker behaviors which required corrective actions. The techniques were also demonstrated to be applicable for purposes of research and safety performance evaluation.