Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
of the high amount of exposure to risky stimuli, which evokes habitu-
ation. In order to be a good role model, he himself still needs to expe-
rience the anxiety that is connected to sensing certain risks, because
the sharing of anxiety is crucial in the classical conditioning process.
Besides the work-related criteria, a safety buddy also has to meet
two other criteria.
A demonstrated ability to be a real champion in safety. The image
of
is needed because a person cannot be
expected to be a role model within the safety area if she is not prac-
ticing safety philosophy in all her actions. People start to disrespect
a person who doesn
“
champion in safety
”
'
t practice what she preaches.
High social status in the team. The high social status is essential for
a person who wants to use the power of a role model. The uncon-
scious willingness to copy behavior from others is directly related to
the attractiveness of the model. Without social status, a person has
only limited modeling power.
Of course nobody fulfills all these criteria, but the closer one
matches the profile, the easier it is to fulfill the role of safety buddy.
7.3 WHAT COMPETENCES ARE REQUIRED FOR A
SAFETY BUDDY?
A safety buddy should acquire certain additional competences (above
the regular competences of the job) before he can fulfill this role. He
needs to be both a teacher and a coach. The teacher first of all under-
stands his own additional role as safety buddy in an organization. Next,
he needs to understand the theoretical background behind Brain Based
Safety, especially the impact of risk sensitivity and risk understanding
and the role differentiation between the conscious and nonconscious
systems in behavior. He needs to understand how behavior is generated
and why it is difficult to change it. Further he needs to understand that
all safety behavior is dynamic. He should know how the major learning
processes work because he will play an important role teaching others.
He must know how he can use the principles of classical conditioning
(Pavlov, offering two stimuli at the same moment) and model learning.
The safety buddy has well developed coaching skills and understands
how to act safely.
