In this episode, Dr. Ayers introduces a term he created: “Hazard Correction Fixation Syndrome.” It describes what happens when safety professionals become so focused on fixing one specific hazard that they fail to notice other hazards in the area — sometimes even more serious ones.
Safety pros often zero in on a single issue (e.g., a missing guard, a spill, a blocked exit).
While locked onto that one hazard, they unintentionally ignore surrounding risks.
This narrow focus can lead to incomplete assessments and missed opportunities for prevention.
Dr. Ayers emphasizes the importance of:
Pausing before jumping into correction mode
Scanning the entire work area
Asking: “What else is happening here?”
Avoiding tunnel vision that limits situational awareness
The episode encourages leaders to:
Get input from workers who know the job intimately
Ask what hazards they see
Collaborate on solutions rather than dictating fixes
Build a more complete understanding of the environment
Don’t get tunnel vision. Fix the hazard, but don’t miss the others.
Use a wide‑angle lens. Assess the entire environment before acting.
Partner with employees. Their perspective fills in your blind spots.
Think systemically. Hazards rarely exist in isolation.
