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How logical is safety? An institutional logics perspective on safety at work
Pieter A Cornelissen1, Mark Van Vuuren1, Joris J Van Hoof1
1Department of Communication Science, Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Work (Reading, Mass.)
|May 18, 2020
Summary
Occupational safety is complex due to conflicting market, professional, and corporate logics. Understanding these institutional logics helps explain seemingly irrational safety behaviors and prevent accidents.
Area of Science:
- Organizational Behavior
- Occupational Safety and Health
- Sociology of Work
Background:
- Despite advancements in safety knowledge, occupational incidents and accidents remain frequent in modern workplaces.
- Existing safety frameworks may not fully capture the complexities influencing worker behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To apply an institutional logics perspective to gain new insights into safety-related thinking, decision-making, and behaviors.
- To explore the interplay between different institutional logics and their impact on occupational safety management.
Main Methods:
- Conducted semi-structured interviews with twenty-two managers in a railroad construction and maintenance organization.
- Discussed various topics related to occupational safety and management practices.
Main Results:
- An institutional logics perspective offers valuable insights into market, profession, and corporation logics within occupational safety.
- Identified contradictory viewpoints and complexity between these three logics and their influence on management approaches.
Conclusions:
- Viewing occupational safety through institutional logics enhances understanding and reveals rationales for safety attitudes and behaviors.
- Mastering the discourse of institutional logics can aid managers and safety professionals in accident analysis and prevention.
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