Science-based Approach Helps GP Think Differently About Safety

Human and organizational performance is certainly a mouthful.  But even when shortened to “HOP,” this new view can have a big impact on keeping workers safe.  That’s why HOP is one part of GP’s overall safety strategy on the path to zero.

The traditional approach to safety is to try to prevent all accidents from happening and to “fix” the worker with rules or training when an accident or error occurs. HOP is a different approach that acknowledges that unexpected things will happen, so we work to build more resilient systems that keep employees from getting seriously injured or killed. The auto industry has used this thought process to make cars safer.

Employees are some of the best problem-solvers because they are the ones closest to the work and have experienced things that have gone wrong. One way to apply HOP is by asking questions before starting hazardous work. Real life questions like: When I’m doing this work, what could seriously injure or kill me?

• What controls (safeguards) are in place?
• Is that enough to protect me when – not if – something goes wrong?

Once a hazardous task is completed, talking about what didn’t go as planned helps to find ways to improve for the next time. It’s a lifelong learning process. And while it takes time and a different way of thinking, it makes doing work easier to get right and more difficult to get wrong.

Using human and organizational performance is just one way we put stewardship into action, using our best knowledge and employee know-how to operate in a responsible way.

Meet Melvin Whatley to learn more about how they use HOP in their roles.