Philosophical Perspectives on Safety and Risk

Safety is a combination of human judgment, ethical priorities and the pursuit of knowledge and so often much more than rules and regulations. This book offers tools to elevate safety standards through effective decision-making processes, understanding emerging technological challenges and promoting a culture of ethical responsibility wherever the workplace may be. Exploring the relationship between philosophical principles and core safety practices, it examines the ethical, epistemological, and ontological viewpoints of safety and reveals how our understanding of morality, knowledge, and the nature of risk can define how humans manage hazards and ensure well-being in their places of work.

The text offers readers a mix of theory and application. It covers topics including the historical evolution of safety ethics to the psychological and cultural impacts of risk management. Featuring case studies and practical examples taken from real-life workplaces, it illustrates how philosophical insights can translate into actionable strategies for more effective safety practices. Readers will develop a thorough understanding of the link between philosophy and safety practice and how these result in effective risk management in industrial settings.

Philosophical Perspectives on Safety and Risk: From Harm to Harmony is an essential read for professionals in the field of health and safety including safety managers, risk assessors, systems engineers and those from the wider world of engineering.

Mohammad Yazdi is a Researcher at the Centre for Risk, Integrity, and Safety Engineering (C-RISE) at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, and Macquarie University, Australia. He holds a BSc in Safety Engineering from the Petroleum University of Technology, Iran, and an MSc in Industrial Engineering from Eastern Mediterranean University, Cyprus. With experience in academia and industry, including roles as a Safety Officer and Auditor in the energy sector, his expertise spans system safety, risk assessment, and asset management. Dr. Yazdi focuses on bridging industry and academia to develop innovative solutions for energy infrastructure and advanced decision-making.