Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
If we examine this list, we can state that some of these stimuli can
appear in a modern work environment, but they seldom do. The most
interesting one is the newness of an environment, something that is
always present when changing jobs. Although it is a general attribute,
newness generates a mild sense of anxiety due to the fact that not every-
thing can be overlooked and controlled. As long as a situation is being
perceived as new, our overall level of awareness is raised. It is a natural
way of being mindful. Newness helps new employees during the first
one or two years in a position. After that period, this effect fades away.
Unfortunately, employees that are new on a job are not only more
aware of the situation but also display more risky behavior. This is a
direct result of the fact that many of the risks in a new job are not on the
previous list. There is no innate warning system for these situations; our
first nature is insufficient to manage safety in these situations. Working
safely requires a second nature on top of our first nature, an artificial risk
sensitivity that must be learned for almost all dangerous stimuli.
Newness
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Years in function
Estimated effect of neurological process
We are all very familiar with this need for educating risk sensitivity
when we have young children. We are aware of the fact that they have
some innate danger sensitivity, usually connected to certain periods in
their development, for example, the fear of being left alone around 18
months or the fear of unfamiliar faces around four years. Everybody
