Actually that is a very good question for discussion.
When I began to do that kind of work the sense of responsibility for those folks dangling on the line below you gets very serious.
The simple version of our operating philosophy was their safety came first always....no question of it.
We were prepared to afford them the safest return to the ground we could....then worry about getting the aircraft down.
All my work was done in a single engine aircraft (outside winching ops) thus engine failures were considered to be the most likely problem for us.
We were have done an autorotation landing if possible assuming we were in flight.....but doing the first landing for the people on the rope....then completing the landing of the helicopter as best possible.
If we encountered other problems that might prevent that then it was figuring out how to get them the softest most survivable landing available.
An engine failure at a hover was a bit more straight forward....set the folks down then move the helicopter in a pre-briefed direction...as we flew Left Seat single pilot we tried to always move the aircraft left...and brief the folks to exit to the right of the aircraft so the combined movements granted the maximum separation.
I know that for me that kind of flying was the most stressful there was due to the concern I had for the people beneath the Helicopter as a mistake could severely injure or kill them.
Gordy as usual can speak to this as I know he has done this kind of flying. Others here have such experience I am sure and can add to this conversation.