“Controls save lives”
Did you check out my YouTube vid covering Bayona et al.’s 2026 study that explored the links between pre-job safety briefs, high-energy direct controls (via HECA – high-energy control assessment), and SIF rates?
Interestingly, they found that HECA scores were a strong predictor of future SIFs (* but also predicted broader injury rates in count models).
In the study’s model, keeping exposure at ~1k full-time workers for a year:
HECA of 0 = ~2.5 expected SIFs
HECA of 0.5 = ~0.5
HECA of 0.9 = < 0.15
It’s suggested, at a minimum, to step in when HECA drops below ~30%, since that’s when a SIF becomes more likely (though it’s noted that a minimum unacceptable threshold for HECA isn’t known).
Second, they explored whether pre-job briefs help ensure controls are implemented?
· Better pre-job briefs were linked to more high-energy controls
· Companies with very low pre-job scores consistently lacked direct controls
· Companies with almost perfectly scored briefs still didn’t reach full control coverage
So, naturally, effective conversations are important but not sufficient. The article suggests that other org factors influence whether plans are translated into physical field controls.
NB. While the HECA–SIF effect was statistically significant, confidence intervals were close to zero & SIF numbers are model predictions, not observed counts.
#SIF #safetyscience #constructionsafety #CSRA #hierarchyofcontrol
