Cross-cultural difference and cognitive biases as causes of gap of mindset toward safety between approach based on hazard detection and that based on firm safety confirmation

Japanese or eastern countries’ attitude toward safety was reviewed from mindset toward safety, approach for addressing safety, and attitude toward investing for safety. This was compared with that of U.S. or western countries. It was assumed that such a difference leads to a major gap between the safety approach based on hazard detection and that based on firm safety confirmation. An attempt was made to explain why the gap arises from the standpoint of cross-cultural difference, cognitive biases, and the relationship between scarcity and slack. Based on the discussion, we demonstrated that we should recognize and accept cross-cultural difference, cognitive biases, and the risk of the state with less slack for safety due to scarcity (especially, economic one). The attitude toward safety in line with such properties should be modified to control the unacceptable risk to a minimum so that we can further enhance safety and cut off the vicious circle of repetition of similar disasters, collisions, or crashes.