QUICKSTOPPERS: Hazardous Attitudes Impact on Safety

Good judgment is paramount to the safe operation of aircraft, weapons, engineering, heavy machinery, vehicles, and other equipment. Anytime an operation presents hazards that contain the potential for loss of life, serious injury, or enormous financial losses, we run the risk of not correctly identifying and mitigating the hazards.

A critical component of hazard mitigation is an understanding of the human factors and the vulnerabilities associated with the mental and emotional state of the individual making those important frontline decisions. A series of studies have identified five hazardous attitudes that interfere with the ability to make safe and sound decisions.

• Anti-authority – “Do not tell me.”
• Impulsivity – “Do something, anything … just do it now.”
• Invulnerability – “I have heard of it happening, but it will not happen to me.”
• Macho – “I can do it, no problem for me.”
• Resignation – “What is the use? Sometimes I get lucky, other times, not so much.”

A critical component of hazard mitigation is an understanding of the human factors and the vulnerabilities associated with the mental and emotional state of the individual making those important frontline decisions.

The critical human factor takeaway is twofold: (1) mental and emotional awareness, and the ability to recognize these attitudes internally; and (2) taking positive steps to increase the likelihood of safer outcomes by replacing a hazardous attitude with a more responsible perspective.

• Anti-authority – “Follow the rules and regulations; most operating rules are safety-driven and have a specific purpose.”
• Impulsivity – “Slow down. Allow the human mind to think clearly. Create time to analyze before acting, and much better results will follow.”
• Invulnerability – “Recognize it could happen to anyone, regardless of experience levels.”
• Macho – “Taking chances and increasing unjustified risk helps no one.”
• Resignation – “Everyone has the potential to make a positive impact; be great at what you do.”

In conclusion, recognizing and mitigating hazardous attitudes will lead to better decisions and a safer operating environment for all of us.