What principle focuses on the greatest benefit to the greatest number of people?

Utilitarianism is a principle that asserts that the best action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or benefit for the majority. It emphasizes the outcomes of actions, evaluating them based on the resultant level of happiness or satisfaction they produce. This principle is particularly relevant in ethical decision-making where the implications of actions must be weighed, focusing on promoting the highest good for the largest group of people.

In the context of safety and health in construction, applying utilitarian principles helps in making decisions that prioritize processes and policies leading to the most considerable overall safety improvements for workers. When decisions are grounded in utilitarianism, they favor strategies that enhance the welfare of all rather than catering to a specific individual's needs or rights alone.

The other principles differentiate themselves by focusing on individual rights or duties, rather than the collective benefit. Right-Based approaches emphasize the protection of individual rights, while Duty-Based ethics revolves around fulfilling one's obligations, regardless of the outcome. Personal Responsibility stresses accountability for one's actions based on personal choices. Therefore, while these other principles are important in their own capacity, they do not encapsulate the essence of making decisions aimed at achieving the greatest benefit for the majority, which is the hallmark of utilitarianism.