The PASS process was first implemented in 1985 by its developer and creator, James S. Burns, at Cominco’s underground Sullivan Mine in Kimberley BC, Canada, under the direction of Ralph Hargrave. Despite being a crude, early version of PASS, excellent results were achieved with this positive approach to Safety. The next organization to implement a prototype of PASS was Suncor’s giant open-pit Oil Sands Mine in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. Jim Burns was an internal consultant with Suncor (Organizational Improvement Consultant) and again PASS achieved superb results.

Jim Burns later returned to a private consultancy and implemented the first actual PASS system, using a new implementation approach, at Rio Tinto’s Peak Gold Mines in New South Wales, Australia. The Management Team (Ross Hannigan, GM; Len Moore, Manager Organisations and Greg Jackson, Mine Manager) encouraged the formal development of this approach and the publishing of Jim's first book PASS: Positive Attitude Safety System. Jim, then implemented PASS with American Barrick’s (Barrick Gold) Holt-McDermott Mine in Ontario, Canada.

Jim realized that when he was no longer involved with the client, the PASS System wavered and eventually was abandoned. His new challenge was to transform his role from that of the owner of the System to the transferor of the PASS technology to the client. His consulting responsibility was then to create involvement on behalf of his clients, which would lead to commitment to the process, finally evolving into ownership of the PASS process.

The original PASS material has been significantly refined by Jim Burns over the past 15 years, as a result of working with various clients and cultures around the world. In addition, through the contribution and participation of our clients, the PASS material has been translated into several languages. The PASS material is dynamic and reflects the constant improvements and modifications that are being made to the process. The process has now been implemented in numerous countries and cultures and in all types of industries. The success of the PASS Process and the availability of excellent PASS consultants (drawn from our best clients' organizations) have allowed Jim to establish independently-owned franchised companies in various countries. These franchises provide a more focused and beneficial service to the markets of Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Argentina and Asia.

Jim achieved this goal by using a ‘voluntary cascading approach’ with limited involvement of management during start-up and implementing the process from the bottom up. In addition, he greatly limited his actual time on site with his clients, forcing them to take a greater hands-on approach with the process. This strategy has been very successful and allows Jim and his associates to work with a greater number of organizations.