Are you a risk taker? 

Do you use your phone while driving?

Do you wear a helmet when cycling?

Do you cut grass with your sandals on?

Do you stand on a chair to change a lightbulb?

Do you know what your personal risk appetite is?

If you do – do you consider how that might impact how you view risks at work?

If you are a leader, it’s a great conversation to have with your team. They might tell you they take risks at home but never at work – but can a person’s risk appetite really change at the gate?

Strong safety cultures rely on people who think safely because it’s how they see the world. If someone routinely takes shortcuts every day in life, are they more likely to do the same under pressure on the job?

There is no one size fits all answer – but isn’t it worth discussing with your team?

The question for leaders is “What kind of safety mindset are my people bringing through the doors each morning?”

Maybe more importantly, “What kind of safety mindset do I bring through the doors each morning?”

Because if you lead others, and your own safety mindset is different to theirs, you may have a challenge on your hands.

Working safely isn’t just about what people do on site – it’s about personal values and mindset. Of course, you can’t influence the risks people take in every part of their life, but you can be aware that people you work with every day might have a different risk appetite than you.

Discuss what that might mean for your team.

Here is a little (non-scientific) tool to help you have that discussion.