Safety performance: the power of observation

A famous US study in the 1920s came to the conclusion that some people work harder and perform better when they are aware that they are being observed - the Hawthorne Effect. Two groups of employees were the subjects of the study – one group was exposed to variations in lighting in their production areas, while the second (the ‘control group’) worked in an area where lighting remained unchanged for the period of the study. The expectation was that those working with enhanced lighting would be more productive and although the group with enhanced lighting productivity improved, so did the ‘control’ groups. Rethinking the hypotheses, the scientists concluded that productivity increased not due to the changes in the work environment, but because of the observation of the workers by the research team during the study.The ‘Hawthorne Effect’ as it has become known, refers to the tendency of some people to work harder and perform better when they are aware that they are being observed. Individuals appear to change their behaviours as a direct result of the attention they receive. The Hawthorne studies provide two key learnings for those interested in improving safety at work: The act of observation in itself has the power to influence human behaviour because individuals usually appear to want to be observed, quite literally, in ‘the best light’. Beyond ‘looking good’ as an individual, people take pride in demonstrating their efficiency and contribution in a group. So what can we do with these findings? First, think about the process of observing workers in your organisation. Are your workers acting so as to be seen in ‘the best light’? What happens when the light stops shining on them? Does their behaviour change like the workers at Hawthorne? Then consider how you might encourage the formation of strong bonds, positive beliefs, creeds and unwritten codes of conduct within work teams. Instead of laughing from the sidelines when people make mistakes, why not more whooping with appreciation when they get things right? Very soon your workers might just be flying high thanks to your recognition

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