CHRONIC UNEASE AND COGNITIVE PROCESSES: ADVANCING SAFETY MANAGEMENT IN HIGH-RISK INDUSTRIES TOWARDS ZERO INCIDENTS

High-risk industries, particularly the oil and gas sector, face significant safety challenges. This review explores the concept of Chronic Unease and its role in enhancing Safety management, focusing on its interaction with cognitive processes and decision-making strategies. A systematic literature review was conducted using databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, with search terms such as Chronic Unease, Safety management, High-risk industries, Cognitive biases, and decision-making. Articles published between 2010 and 2024 were included.Chronic Unease, characterized by constant vigilance towards potential risks, plays a crucial role in creating proactive safety environments. The interplay between Chronic Unease, fast-thinking and slow thinking processes, and Cognitive biases significantly influences decision-making in high-risk scenarios. Practical applications in the oil and gas industry include comprehensive safety training programs, leveraging advanced technologies, and implementing safety-focused project management methodologies.An integrated approach combining Chronic Unease awareness, slow-thinking processes, and strategies to mitigate Cognitive biases can enhance safety performance in High-risk industries. Future research should focus on quantifying the impact of Chronic Unease on safety outcomes and exploring potential drawbacks of sustained vigilance.