Public Safety Behaviours : Insights from COVID-19

By : Harbans Lal Kaila

Page No: 337-350

Abstract:
India lost more than two hundred thousand human lives due to COVID-19. Could the behavioural safety practices have helped us from COVID-19 fatalities and also the worsening economy, and how would citizens participation help achieving this objective for future, are the critical questions that concern all of us as citizens for our contribution to creating a safe society by following just safe behaviours. Based on interactions with 252 HSE professionals from diverse backgrounds, this article articulates as to what are the disabling or enabling factors towards exploring these questions, and how this objective can be reached in a perspective. It is recommended to incorporate ‘Health and Safety Care by each other’ by creating awareness among all citizens for ‘an observation and spot-correction of any at-risk behaviour from workplace to anyplace daily once’. An individual citizens behaviour whether voting or safety or health behaviour has the power to make a narrative or rule for our country. However, the world is likely to experience many COVID-19 waves till the societies learn and adopt proper masking and distancing behaviours. As behavioural changes at national level are gradual, the efforts have to sustain as planned interventions to combat COVID-19. Citizens need to understand that COVID-19 appropriate behaviours would give nearly 100 percent protection from infection, which is even higher protection than the vaccines could do. A multi-pronged action plan is recommended based on research findings. If India remains in fire-fighting approach and not installing permanent solution, it would affect economy adversely further. Towards success in the COVID-19 test, as nations prepare for future, let citizens now focus on safe behaviours.

Author :
Harbans Lal
Professor of Psychology (Retd.) – SNDT Women’s University, Director - Forum of Behavioural Safety, Mumbai. Harbans Lal, earned his Masters’ degree in Psychology from Guru Nanak Dev University, and PhD from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Served SNDT Women’s University and the Central Labour Institute, Mumbai for >28 years. Represented India in Conferences in New York, Berlin, Muscat, Rome, New Zealand, Japan, London, Dubai, Cairo and Sydney. Is the Editor of the Journal of Psychosocial Research. Director of the Forum of Behavioural Safety and has conducted >1000 behavioural safety programs for industry.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPR.2021.16.02.13