By S. S. Suarez
I am not going to lie. I’m no expert in Psychology and human behavior. What I do possess is 14 years of experience in occupational health and safety that allowed me to interact with different kinds of people from different walks of life.
When it comes to safety, the success of the safety program depends on three factors: system, equipment and people. Among these three, which do you think is the most difficult to manage?
It’s no brainer. Human behavior is never easy to manage. I can describe it with three C's -- Complex, Complicated and Conflicting. We can buy the most advanced technologies available in safety but if the people will not embrace it, they are useless.
Man is complex because he is created that way. His brain emits various neuro signals and emotions. He can be happy sometimes, sad in other times. He can be easy or difficult sometimes. Or worse, he can be angry for no obvious reasons. That’s why Hannibal the Cannibal and his minions have been on the loose.
Man is complicated because he tends to complicate things. Analysis by paralysis, and that’s what we are sometimes. We tend to overthink, over react and over analyze what an otherwise simple problem until we are too late to react. Some golfers suffer from this “disease” and I myself am no exception. Call it overkill or “OA” in other words. No one is perfect, although I hear my daughter says “overperfect” for her Math 17 exams.
Man is filled with conflict. We are faced with the struggle between good and evil. Sometimes our right hand doesn’t know what our left hand is doing. Sometimes, what we say contradict what we do. This conflict within ourselves is what makes us truly unique. And why is this so? It is because God gifted us with free will. Otherwise, we are no exception to angels and demons. We are a notch higher than animals because we are blessed that God created us in His likeness. In our Religion subject, it’s called conscience or the “voice within”.
Aside from the three C's, there are other factors that affect human behavior. According to studies, demographic profile and cultural differences also define how we should shape and implement our safety programs.
As safety practitioner, we should consider the age, status, and gender of the people we are trying to manage. An old worker thinks and behaves differently from the young ones. Old people may have become more relaxed and tend to resist change as they are contented with the status quo. They have established a “comfort zone” which became their excuse for self-preservation. A young worker meanwhile is aggressive which makes them dangerous sometimes.
Social status also affects behavior. A person born with the silver spoon thinks and behaves differently from someone who grew up in a struggling environment. The difference is obvious in the way the former dresses or carry a conversation from the latter.
Gender issues are always a favorite topic in organizational behavior. A century ago, women had fought for their right to vote and run for office. Today, we see women in various sectors of our society enjoying better opportunities. But the struggle is still there especially for women living in a patriarchal and male-dominated environment.
Nonetheless, women power cannot be ignored. I personally believe that women are the stronger sex. They possess grace in their demeanor and a higher emotional quotient than men. Men sometimes just use their brawn and boom voice to get what their want. The difference in physiological make-up should be also considered when we create labor policies. Pregnant women should not be exposed to strenuous activities and work areas where radiation levels are high.
Cultural differences are another reality that we should consider in implementing our safety programs. Filipinos tend to behave differently when they are living and working abroad. In highly-disciplined societies like Singapore, our “kababayans” follow traffic rules, don’t spit, litter and urinate on the street. You don’t see dog’s poop.
People’s religious and ethnic backgrounds should be also respected. Bigotry may be a strong word to use but it’s the reason why we have lots of conflicts in this world. If we can show respect and tolerance with our fellowmen, wars can be prevented.
Managing people is indeed a huge challenge. Implementing safety takes more than technical skills and advanced systems. Understanding the human factors is essential to ensure that people will embrace safety as a culture. It may take years but it can be done if there is openness and honesty in the work environment.
