Safety engineers are actually decision management scientists. We devote our time and efforts with a focus on helping others make better decisions to ultimately mitigate accidents involving themselves and the environment. This is why it is so critical that we study work systems to identify and understand the independent variables that are causally related hazards to humans and the environment. We are ultimately responsible for making the decision to remove or replace the affected variables, even while measuring the effectiveness and perceived safety of the work system with statistical data analysis before exposing humans or the environment to the work system.

How important do you perceive personal decision making to be among staff employees, mid-level managers, and senior managers in any given organization?

What do you suggest to improve personal decision-making skills?