A sociotechnical approach to occupational safety

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Sociotechnical Systems Theory
• Organizational Management

Background:

• Traditional occupational safety often operates in isolation from core organizational functions.
• A disconnect exists between safety performance and broader organizational objectives like productivity and employee well-being.
• Sociotechnical principles offer a holistic approach to system design and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an integrated conceptual framework for enhancing occupational safety.
• To establish occupational safety as integral to organizational mission, combining performance and well-being.
• To guide the joint optimization of social and technical system components for safety.

Main Methods:

• Development of a conceptual framework based on sociotechnical principles.
• Identification of four key questions to guide safety assessment and intervention.
• Adoption of a complexity perspective, viewing safety as an emergent property.

Main Results:

• The framework proposes a systemic approach to occupational safety, moving beyond isolated interventions.
• It outlines critical questions for assessing safety levels, identifying interventions, evaluating organizational readiness, and planning implementation.
• Recognizes safety as an emergent property requiring diverse methodological approaches.

Conclusions:

• An integrated sociotechnical framework is essential for improving occupational safety.
• Joint optimization of social and technical elements is fundamental for achieving both safety and organizational goals.
• A complexity perspective and varied methodologies are necessary for effective safety management.