It’s Not What You Think: How Feelings Impact Decision Making and At-Risk Behavior

REGISTER Below to view the ONDemand Version
This webinar occurred on:  April 16, 2015

What motivates your employees to choose risky behavior vs. a safer alternative? Are they even aware that they are making these decisions?

Recent research in human behavior and the neurosciences suggests that we are far more irrational than was previously believed, and our decisions are driven primarily by experiences and our feelings associated with them. It’s for this very reason that we routinely make risky choices and don’t always follow the rules. This notion has profound impact upon how organizations can more effectively manage day-to-day operations and help employees reduce risky behaviors – on and off the job.

While management systems and administrative practices have reduced the frequency of injuries and illnesses in the workplace, they have not fully eliminated these unfortunate events nor the causal factors involving at-risk behaviors associated with them. These traditional safety practices don’t fully account for how we perceive, interpret, or respond to risk in real time, under real circumstances. Most at-risk behaviors occur intuitively and are the result of experientially-based feelings associated with anticipated outcomes. The role of feelings and emotions is becoming increasingly more important as a primary source of motivation.

This webinar will look at the conscious vs. subconscious mind and how the two states impact decision making. It will show how the key to further advancing the effectiveness of safety management practices involves a better understanding of human motivational factors and its subsequent impact on the decision making process. Results from piloted initiatives at DuPont sites will also be covered. The focus to switch on the conscious mind yielded initial results beyond expectations.

REGISTER Below to view the ONDemand Version
This webinar occurred on:  April 16, 2015


Speaker:

Joseph White is from Richmond, VA, and is an employee safety solution architect with DuPont Sustainable Solutions (DSS). He has 25 years of operational safety experience, 19 years of which have been with DuPont. While at DuPont, Joseph worked at the Spruance plant, which is the company’s largest manufacturing site, with approximately 2,400 employees and another 1,200 contractors. In addition, he served as the fire & life safety competency leader for the Atlantic coast region and has led numerous internal safety audits at DuPont sites across the US.

Throughout his career, Joseph has been intrigued by individual risk perception and the process by which decisions are made. Over the last 16 years, he has pursued a course of independent study to better understand the cognitive and affective domains of human intellect, as it specifically relates to perceived risks, rewards, and anticipated outcomes. His research has resulted in the adoption of new safety practices within DuPont and the integration of new concepts and strategies into solution designs for clients seeking to move beyond plateaued safety performance levels.

In his spare time, Joseph volunteers as a youth softball and basketball coach. In addition, he is a hunter safety instructor for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and has a B.S., in Safety and Risk Administration.

Duration: 1 Hour