OPINION

Fear at work is a hidden safety risk — and it helps explain why hazards go unreported

Creating safer workplaces requires cultures where speaking up is not punished, dismissed or ignored

Lianne M Lefsrud, Professor and Risk, Innovation & Sustainability Chair (RISC), University of Alberta
Many mine workers were more afraid of the consequences of reporting hazards than the hazards themselves

Many mine workers were more afraid of the consequences of reporting hazards than the hazards themselves | Credits: Shutterstock

Psychological safety — the belief that it is safe to speak up with concerns, questions or mistakes — is widely recognized as essential for organisational learning, innovation and workplace safety. Yet...

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