Leading And Learning Through Safety

The podcast episode discusses the relationship between ethical decision-making and workplace safety. Hosted by Dr. Mark French, the episode explores how distance from the work environment affects ethical judgment in safety-related decisions.Dr. French references an article from the Journal of Applied Psychology (February 2025) titled Out of Sight, Out of Mind: How High-Level Controls Can Decrease the Ethical Framing of Risk-Mitigating Behavior. The research highlights how individuals making safety decisions—often executives or managers—tend to underestimate workplace risks when they are physically removed from the job site. This detachment leads to decisions that may prioritize cost and productivity over worker safety.The discussion emphasizes how safety professionals frequently face ethical dilemmas, such as choosing between enforcing safety measures and aligning with corporate expectations. Dr. French underscores the challenge of instilling ethical behavior, noting that while organizations can promote accou