Safety
Safety is the state of being protected from harm or danger.
Safety is the state of being protected from harm or other danger, and it can also refer to the control of recognized hazards to achieve an acceptable level of risk. The term is used widely across many contexts, yet there is no universally accepted definition, with meanings often based on community acceptance and understanding.
- etymology
- Derived from Latin salvus, meaning uninjured, in good health, safe
- first_english_use
- 14th century
- field
- General concept, risk management, engineering
- known_for
- Being a normative concept with no single universal definition
- types
- Normative, substantive, perceived
Lore & Background
The word 'safety' entered English in the 14th century, from Latin salvus via Anglo-French. Despite its common use, there is no universally accepted definition; definitions vary by context and community. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as 'freedom from danger and risks,' while Merriam-Webster describes it as 'the condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury, or loss.' Other definitions include 'the absence of risk and adverse incidents' or 'the presence of a capability to defend against adverse events.'
Reader's Guide
Safety is a relative concept; eliminating all risk is extremely difficult and expensive. A safe situation is one where risks are low and manageable. The term encompasses normative safety (meeting standards), substantive safety (favorable real-world history), and perceived safety (user comfort and perception). Security, also called social or public safety, addresses intentional criminal acts. Safety is often interpreted as implying a real impact on risk of death, injury, or property damage. Common responses to perceived safety issues include engineering interventions, regulation, and insurance. The concept is central to system safety and reliability engineering, which deals with continuous changes in technology and environmental regulation.
Did You Know?
- The word 'safety' entered English in the 14th century, derived from Latin salvus.
- There is no universally accepted definition of safety; definitions are based on community acceptance.
- Safety can be categorized as normative, substantive, or perceived.
- Perceived safety can drive regulation that increases costs without improving actual safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Safety in the context of ethics and morality?
Safety refers to the state of being shielded from harm or danger, and it also encompasses the active management of known hazards to keep risk at an acceptable level. It functions as a normative concept rather than a fixed rule, meaning its precise meaning shifts depending on community values and shared understanding.
Where does the word 'Safety' come from?
The term traces back to the Latin word salvus, which conveyed ideas of being uninjured and in good health. It entered English usage in the 14th century and has carried that protective connotation ever since.
Is there a single, universally accepted definition of Safety?
No. Safety is widely used across many contexts, yet no one definition has achieved universal agreement. Its meaning is typically grounded in what a given community accepts and understands as an adequate level of protection.
What types or categories of Safety are recognized?
Safety is generally discussed in three forms: normative (relating to standards and obligations), substantive (concerning the actual state of protection), and perceived (reflecting how people subjectively experience their own security).
Which fields does the concept of Safety most directly intersect with?
Safety sits at the crossroads of general ethical philosophy, risk management, and engineering. It is not confined to any single discipline but serves as a shared normative framework across all three.
More in Ethics & Morality 25-32
Elsewhere in the Ethics & Morality universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record