Safety Decision-Making: Overcoming Human Nature is a 19-minute online course that examines the psychological factors that lead workers to take unsafe shortcuts, including risk normalization, peer pressure, and the pursuit of instant gratification. It is designed for employees and supervisors across all industries and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.
OSHA and the National Safety Council consistently report that unsafe acts by workers - not unsafe conditions - are the primary contributing factor in the majority of workplace injuries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded over 2.6 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in private industry in recent years, many of which involved workers who chose shortcuts, ignored procedures, or underestimated risk. The challenge for employers is that most workers do not intend to get hurt - they make unsafe decisions because human psychology naturally gravitates toward convenience, speed, and social conformity, even when safety rules exist.
This course uses real-world reenactments, common workplace examples, and behavioral psychology concepts to help your employees understand why they are tempted to take shortcuts and how to overcome those impulses. Your team will learn to recognize the specific decision points where unsafe choices happen, understand how peer pressure and risk normalization erode safety discipline, and develop practical strategies for choosing the safe option even when it takes more time or effort. The training is engaging, non-technical, and applicable to any industry or role.
While no specific OSHA standard mandates behavioral safety or decision-making training, OSHA's General Duty Clause requires employers to maintain a workplace free from recognized hazards. The agency's emphasis on root cause analysis during incident investigations frequently identifies human factors - including complacency, shortcuts, and risk normalization - as contributing causes. OSHA penalty data shows that employers who can demonstrate a comprehensive safety culture, including behavioral training, receive more favorable treatment during penalty negotiations and settlement conferences. Serious OSHA violations carry penalties up to $16,550, and investigations that reveal a pattern of unsafe behavior without employer intervention can result in willful citations at up to $165,514 each. Behavioral safety training is recognized by OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) as a component of an effective safety management system.
| Team Size | Price per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 - 9 | $24.95 |
| 10 - 24 | $19.95 |
| 25 - 49 | $17.95 |
| 50 - 99 | $17.50 |
This course is available in English and Spanish at no additional charge.
Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.