Risk averse behavior is certainly one aspect of the precautionary principle.
In public policy the government role is expanded in a risk averse population. The cost of risk averse behavior and the unintended consequences are significant.
Here’s another take–medical care in America is more expensive for sure because of risk averse behavior.
http://skepticalscalpel.blogspot.com/2013/12/defensive-medicine-is-more-of-problem.html
“Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at times be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” C.S Lewis, God in the Dock