Zero-risk bias is a tendency to prefer the complete elimination of risk in a sub-part over alternatives with greater overall risk reduction. It often manifests in cases where decision makers address problems concerning health, safety, and the environment. It is driven by a desire for certainty and the aversion to any level of risk, leading individuals to choose options that eliminate risk, even when they are less optimal overall.
In a survey about hazardous waste cleanup, respondents favored an option that eliminated cancer cases at one site (4 cases) over another that reduced cancer cases by a greater total (6 cases) across two sites. This preference demonstrated zero-risk bias, as eliminating risk in one area was valued more than a greater overall benefit.
To overcome zero-risk bias, focus on the overall risk reduction rather than the elimination of risk in one aspect, and consider the trade-offs and broader implications of decisions.