S:6 E#11: Why Safer Doesn’t Always Mean Safer: How Risk Compensation Impacts Safety Results with Craig Martin and Jesus M. de la Garza

In this episode of the Get the kNACk podcast, host Sue Steele brings together leaders from academia and industry to explore a central theme: "safer does not always mean safer." Joining her are NAC members Jesus M. de la Garza, Professor and Director of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at Clemson University, and Craig Martin, retired CEO and President of Jacobs. Together they share their research on risk compensation, the tendency for people to adjust their behavior in response to changes in safety, and how this impacts safety outcomes.

They share the story of how they got started with this research and what their key findings are. They reveal that safety is not just about processes and procedures. It is about behaviors, perception, and the human willingness to take risk. Importantly, understanding human behavior also creates the opportunity for breakthrough safety performance. The guests share the leadership implications of their research and what it takes to create lasting change to transform the industry and build a better nation.

Read the full executive insight on this topic published by the National Academy of Construction here: Risk Tolerance in Safety
More on Safety from NAC: Safety Insights
NAC's Safety Culture Series: Understanding Safety Culture