CEOs With Disaster Experience Focus on Safer Workplaces

Study finds firms led by CEOs who lived through natural disasters as children report fewer workplace injuries and illnesses.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A new study led by researchers at Concordia University has found that CEOs who experienced natural disasters like major earthquakes, floods or hurricanes during their childhood years tend to prioritize workplace safety at the companies they lead. According to the study, firms run by these CEOs report significantly fewer work-related injuries and illnesses compared to companies led by executives without that early-life disaster exposure.

Why it matters

Workplace safety is a major issue with significant social and economic implications. OSHA and National Safety Council data show there were over 2.6 million workplace injuries in 2023, costing $176 billion and 103 million workdays. The study suggests that CEOs' personal experiences can shape their approach to worker safety, which is relevant for boards, investors and policymakers addressing safety, especially in high-risk industries.

The details

The researchers analyzed data on over 500 CEOs of large U.S. companies listed on the S&P 1500 index between 2002-2011. They identified which CEOs had experienced natural disasters during their formative years (ages 5-15) and then looked at workplace injury and illness data reported to OSHA by the companies those CEOs led. The study found firms run by CEOs with early disaster exposure reported nearly 24% fewer work-related injuries and illnesses. This held true even after controlling for factors like firm size, industry, financial pressure, union strength, and the CEO's own workplace authority, gender and age.

  • The study analyzed data on CEOs and their companies from 2002 to 2011.
  • The researchers looked at natural disasters that occurred in the CEOs' home counties when they were between the ages of 5 and 15.

The players

Michel Magnan

The study's co-author and a Distinguished University Research Professor in the Department of Accountancy at the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University.

Yetaotao Qiu

A co-author of the study, who received a PhD from Concordia University in 2020 and is now at the University of Manitoba.

Yu Wang

A co-author of the study, who is at Dongbei University of Finance and Economics.

U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

The U.S. government agency that collects data on workplace injuries and illnesses.

U.S. National Safety Council

A nonprofit organization that tracks data on workplace safety and injuries in the United States.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We keep hearing in the media and commentaries that CEOs tend to be very egotistical and do not really care about their employees. And perhaps there is some truth to that in some cases. But our research shows that many CEOs consider labour safety a very serious matter.”

— Michel Magnan, Co-author of the study and Distinguished University Research Professor (Mirage News)

The takeaway

This study suggests that CEOs' personal experiences, such as living through natural disasters in their formative years, can shape their approach to workplace safety at the companies they lead. The findings highlight how an executive's background can influence their priorities and decision-making around worker safety, which is an important consideration for boards, investors and policymakers.