Summary
In short
- A peer observation is an inspection used in KnowSafe that workers observe each other and give feedback directly, with no supervisor involved. It is built against BBS programme practice and forms part of the Safety Culture and Engagement programme.
- Run as part of a peer programme. Carried out by trained workers.
- The template holds 24 fields across 4 sections, with observations repeating for each entry.
- Scoring is percent safe, where high is good.
- BBS programme practice is behaviour based safety practice. Observation and feedback programmes aimed at behaviour. Effective only where reporting is already trusted.
- It connects to the rest of the library: feeds trend review.
What it is
What it is
What is a peer observation?
A peer observation is an inspection used in KnowSafe that workers observe each other and give feedback directly, with no supervisor involved. It is built against BBS programme practice and forms part of the Safety Culture and Engagement programme.
When is a peer observation completed?
A peer observation is completed on the inspection frequency set in your programme, and again after any change to the asset or area. Run as part of a peer programme.
When to use it
When to use it, and when not to
This inspection is one step in a larger programme. Using it for work that belongs to a neighbouring template produces records that are hard to report on later.
Use it for
- The event or activity this inspection covers has occurred, or is about to
- A new record is needed; each one gets its own ID in the form OBS-2026-000
- You are running the Safety Culture and Engagement programme and this is one of its steps
- A linked record needs this one to exist: feeds trend review
Not for
- Safety Observation, which a short record of how a task was actually done, noting both safe practice and risk.
- Behaviour Based Observation, which looks at a specific set of behaviours agreed with the workforce, such as line of fire, body position and tool use.
- Leadership Safety Walk, which a senior leader spends time in the workplace talking with workers about how the work really goes.
- Anything outside KnowSafe, which belongs in the workspace that owns that process
Standards
What it is built against
BBS programme practiceBehaviour based safety practice
Observation and feedback programmes aimed at behaviour. Effective only where reporting is already trusted.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the peer observation template based on?+
It is built against BBS programme practice. BBS programme practice is behaviour based safety practice. Observation and feedback programmes aimed at behaviour. Effective only where reporting is already trusted.
What sections does the peer observation contain?+
There are 4 sections: header, observations, related records, result. Together they hold 24 fields, 17 of which are required.
How often is a peer observation raised?+
A new record is raised on the inspection frequency set in your programme, and again after any change to the asset or area. Each one is given an ID in the form OBS-2026-000, so it can be traced and referenced from other records.
Which programme does the peer observation belong to?+
It is part of Safety Culture and Engagement. A measured culture position, with interventions matched to the maturity level you actually have.
How is a peer observation scored?+
Scoring is percent safe. High is good. Scores exist to make the form tell you something, not to produce a percentage for its own sake.
Can the peer observation template be changed?+
Yes. Every field, option, score and conditional rule is editable, and the links to other templates come with it. Most teams install it as it is, run it for a cycle, then adjust.
The agents
What the agents do with it
The form is the easy part. Keeping it current, routing it to the right owner and holding the evidence together is the work that actually slips.
Holds the peer observation library against your registers, routes each record to its owner, and keeps the evidence trail together.
Coordinates the crew, rolls completion and exceptions into one view, and holds every write for your approval before it touches a record.
This template lives in KnowSafe — safety and compliance. Incidents, hazards, permits, inspections and the critical controls behind them.
Meet KnowSafe→Sources
Sources
- BBS programme practice — Behaviour based safety practice