Title
The Influence of Communicating on Safety Measures on Risk-Taking Behavior
Author
Groeneweg, J.
ter Mors, E.
Publication year
2016
Abstract
Risk-taking behavior is an important contributing human factor to incidents and notoriously difficult to influence. A basic premise of approaches to improving safety by putting in extra levels of protection (e.g. the Swiss cheese model) is that providing information on the number of layers in place does not influence the risk-taking behavior of employees. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that people have a "hard-wired" optimal perceived risk level: we compensate for risk-reducing measures by taking greater risks until the desired level of risk is again reached (risk homeostasis). The research presented in this paper shows that communicating the quantity of protection measures in place has a clear and substantial effect on risk-taking behavior and performance. Although the limitations of this study should be recognized, organizations might reconsider conveying detailed information to their employees on the number of safety measures adopted. Preserving ignorance among employees of the enhanced protection in place creates a stronger "safety buffer" as it reduces risk-taking behavior and improves employees’ efforts to make sure that the presumed "last" layer will hold. The practical implications for organizations on how to communicate effectively on safety measures will be discussed.
Subject
Artificial Intelligence
Mechanism
Riskier fashion
Health & Medicine
Shield
Target level
Participant
Risk-taking behavior
Risk homeostasis
Safety barrier
Work and Employment
Healthy Living
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:41ff1539-e72e-49e5-bca0-e70728f6e207
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2118/179255-ms
TNO identifier
971211
ISBN
9781613994436
Source
SPE International Conference and Exhibition on Health, Safety, Security, Environment, and Social Responsibility, April 11–13, 2016, Stavanger, Norway
Document type
conference paper