HOP Safety: A Smarter Approach to Preventing SIFs

The Human Organizational Performance (HOP) approach to occupational health and safety (OSH) is changing how organizations think about serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs). Instead of placing blame after something goes wrong, HOP focuses on understanding why people make mistakes and how systems can be designed to reduce harm. This shift matters because traditional safety programs often fail to prevent high-consequence events, even when overall incident rates look good.

What Is HOP Approach to Safety?

HOP is a human-centric (people-first) approach to safety. It accepts that human error is normal and predictable. To err is human and everyone makes mistakes every day. Mistakes will happen even when teams are trained and experienced. Instead of asking who caused an incident, HOP asks what conditions allowed it to occur.

This mindset encourages organizations to examine work systems, communication practices, tools, and supervision. When leaders understand how work is really being done, instead of only how it is supposed to be done on paper, they can strengthen systems in ways that prevent small failures from becoming serious incidents.

Why HOP Incorporates Leading Indicators?

Traditional metrics rely heavily on lagging indicators like TRIR, EMR, and incident counts. These numbers are simple to track. They are also fairly simple to manipulate, and some organizations have perfected the art of keeping these numbers very low. However, lagging indicators, by definition, only show what has already happened. They also fail to distinguish between low-severity events and high-severity potential. A contractor can have a strong record on paper yet still see SIFs and major gaps that increase SIF risk.

HOP takes a broader view. Instead of counting incidents, it focuses on how work is performed and how people adapt. It encourages leaders to look at leading indicators, like near-miss reporting, worker engagement, and the strength of learning practices. These forward-looking insights help teams identify risks before an incident occurs.

Because the HOP approach supports a learning mindset, it aligns better with the goal of preventing serious harm. Even when people make mistakes, the focus remains on improvement rather than punishment.

Building a Learning Culture

A strong learning culture is one of the core outcomes of HOP thinking. Workers speak up when they see problems because they know the organization wants to learn. Leaders in this organization respond with curiosity, not blame.

For example, a frontline worker might think that a lift plan is unclear. In a low-trust culture, that worker may stay quiet to avoid conflict. In a learning culture, the worker will speak up and the supervisor thanks them and works with the team to clarify the plan. Near misses and close calls become important learning opportunities, not signs of failure because they yield valuable intel on the effectiveness of controls.

Over time, this approach improves communication and leads to more honest reporting. Leaders gain visibility into hidden hazards, and workers feel respected. That feedback loop helps organizations correct issues before they contribute to a SIF event.

Empowering Supervisors and Leaders

Supervisors play a central role in HOP safety applications. They see how work is done each day and are best positioned to guide improvements. When supervisors have the tools to coach, ask better questions, and foster trust, they help teams make safer decisions.

For example, a supervisor might learn that workers are bypassing a guard to keep pace with production. Instead of disciplining them, the supervisor learns why. Maybe the guard is difficult to remove, or tools are not accessible. Understanding the reason allows leaders to fix the real problem.

This approach removes fear and encourages realistic problem solving. Workers become partners in safety rather than passive rule followers.

HOP Approach in Contractor Environments

HOP is especially valuable when managing contractors. Different work cultures, training backgrounds, and expectations can make alignment difficult. By using HOP principles, companies can build trust quickly and learn how contractors actually work.

A HOP-informed contractor assessment might involve interviews with field workers, observation of real tasks, and reviews of communication practices. These steps help identify where contractors may face conflicting priorities or unclear expectations. Addressing these gaps supports safer work and stronger relationships.

HOP and Serious Injury Prevention

The primary goal of HOP is preventing SIFs. While traditional programs may reduce minor injuries, they often miss the deeper causes of severe incidents. HOP helps organizations focus on activities with high-energy exposure and identify the conditions that could lead to life-altering events.

For example, analyzing a near miss involving a dropped load can reveal design and communication issues that impact multiple teams. Fixing those issues reduces future exposure and improves overall system reliability.

How Veriforce Supports HOP Approach

Veriforce helps organizations combine compliance data with HOP insights. Our platform provides visibility into contractor performance while our Expert Services team supports cultural transformation. We work with clients to assess safety maturity, coach field leaders, and strengthen learning practices.

Through guidance from subject matter experts, organizations implement realistic systems that empower teams, reduce blame, and improve decision making. This support helps companies move beyond compliance toward real prevention of serious injuries and fatalities.

Moving Forward

The HOP approach to safety gives organizations a smarter way to manage risk by focusing on people, systems, and learning. When leaders listen to workers, examine real work, and design supportive processes, they create conditions for safer outcomes.

To learn more about how Veriforce can support your HOP journey and help prevent SIFs, talk to our sales team.