Meanings of risk control in occupational health and safety among employers and employees

Perceptions and understandings of risk in occupational health and safety (OHS) among employers and employees influence the control of risks at work. A study of risk perceptions and understandings in OHS was conducted among employers and employees in an Australian small, blue-collar, business industry. Explanations of risk judgements were elicited and subjected to ethnographic content analysis to reveal underlying meanings of risk and its control. The risk research literature may be conveniently categorised into technical, psychological and social approaches. There has been little research examining how interactions between these contribute to the construction of meanings of risk and its control in OHS. The findings of this study show that interactions between perceptions and understandings of risk and its control in OHS produce a diversity of meanings of risk control in the industry. Three important insights into the research and practice of OHS management and promotion programmes were gained.

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