At ProGuard Rail, we understand that safety in the rail industry is not just about processes and compliance — it's about people. A Behavioural Based Safety (BBS) programme is a proven approach that puts human behaviour at the centre of safety, helping organisations in the UK rail sector reduce incidents, create safer environments, and build a proactive safety culture from the ground up.
BBS is an evidence-based approach that focuses on the behaviours of individuals at all levels of an organisation. It involves observing, analysing, and reinforcing safe behaviours while identifying and correcting unsafe actions before they lead to incidents.
This proactive strategy enables rail sector employers to go beyond traditional compliance and address the real-world dynamics of human error, peer influence, risk perception, and safety engagement.
✅ Improved Safety Performance
Organisations that adopt a BBS programme typically see a measurable drop in incident rates, near misses, and lost time injuries.
✅ Stronger Safety Culture
BBS creates a culture where safety is everyone's responsibility — from senior leadership to frontline staff. It fosters open dialogue, trust, and shared accountability.
✅ Better Workforce Engagement
Employees feel heard and valued when they are part of the safety conversation. BBS programmes empower workers to take ownership of their actions and contribute to continuous improvement.
✅ Data-Driven Insights
Structured observation and reporting provide valuable data on trends, behaviours, and root causes, enabling more informed decision-making.
✅ Reduction in Unsafe Practices
By identifying and addressing behavioural risks early, BBS helps to prevent minor issues from becoming major accidents.
✅ Alignment with UK Rail Industry Standards
BBS supports compliance with Network Rail requirements, RISQS, and HSE guidance, aligning safety initiatives with key industry expectations.
At ProGuard Rail, we specialise in the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of Behavioural Based Safety programmes tailored to the UK rail industry. With decades of experience in HSQE compliance, CDM regulations, and construction site safety, we provide end-to-end support that includes:
🔹 Programme Development
We collaborate with your leadership team to design a bespoke BBS programme aligned with your operational goals and safety values.
🔹 Behavioural Observation Training
Our experienced consultants deliver interactive workshops and training to equip your teams with the skills to observe, record, and discuss behaviours constructively.
🔹 Implementation Support
We guide you through rollout, ensuring full engagement from senior management, supervisors, and trackside operatives.
🔹 Data Capture & Analysis Tools
We offer systems and dashboards to monitor behavioural trends and support real-time decision-making.
🔹 Continuous Improvement
Our consultants conduct ongoing reviews, audits, and workshops to keep your BBS programme relevant, effective, and integrated into your safety management system.
As a trusted name in rail sector compliance and behavioural safety consultancy, ProGuard Rail brings a practical, people-first approach to every project. Our deep knowledge of UK rail safety standards, paired with real-world experience across infrastructure, civils, and construction sites, ensures your BBS programme delivers meaningful results — not just metrics.
Let’s transform safety culture together. Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to enhance an existing programme, ProGuard Rail is your partner in creating safer worksites, reducing risk, and improving workforce wellbeing.
📞 Contact us today to speak to one of our behavioural safety specialists.
📧 Email: info@proguardrail.co.uk
Please reach us at info@proguardconsulting.co.uk if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Behavioural Based Safety (BBS) is a proactive approach to health and safety that focuses on understanding and influencing worker behaviour to reduce incidents and promote a strong safety culture. It encourages safe actions through observation, feedback, and positive reinforcement, rather than relying solely on systems and procedures.
The rail environment presents complex and high-risk scenarios. A well-implemented BBS programme helps reduce unsafe behaviours, improve decision-making in safety-critical tasks, and build a culture of accountability and continuous improvement—essential for achieving zero harm on Network Rail infrastructure and beyond.
Our service includes behavioural safety assessments, design and implementation of tailored BBS programmes, training workshops, observation tools, and coaching for frontline leaders. We also assist with setting up behaviour-based KPIs and continuous monitoring to embed the programme long-term.
BBS is valuable for principal contractors, project managers, site managers, supervisors, and frontline operatives working across rail projects. It is particularly effective on multi-disciplinary worksites where communication, safety leadership, and personal responsibility are key to incident prevention.
With ProGuard Rail’s support, you can typically begin implementing a BBS programme within 3 to 6 months, depending on project scale and readiness. We start with a cultural baseline assessment and co-develop a bespoke plan aligned with your organisational goals and Network Rail requirements.
Yes. BBS enhances your organisation’s overall safety management maturity, supporting key areas of PCL assurance, CDM 2015 compliance, and Network Rail audit expectations. It demonstrates a proactive commitment to workforce safety, behavioural risk reduction, and continual improvement.
Address: Springhill House, Ffordd Brynffynnon, Holywell, CH8 7EH
email: info@proguardrail.co.uk
Tel: 07595893659
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