Which need is considered the lowest in Maslow's hierarchy?

In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, physiological needs are foundational and considered the lowest level. These needs are essential for human survival and include basic requirements such as food, water, warmth, and rest. According to Maslow, until these basic physiological needs are satisfied, individuals will struggle to address higher-level needs such as safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization.

This hierarchy is often represented as a pyramid, with physiological needs at the base, indicating their priority over the other types of needs. Once physiological needs are met, individuals can then focus on their safety needs, followed by social needs like belongingness and love, and esteem needs before striving for self-actualization at the top. Understanding this hierarchy is vital for safety professionals as it emphasizes the importance of addressing basic human needs before higher-order needs can be effectively met.