Sociotechnical approaches to workplace safety: Research needs and opportunities

Ergonomics
Michelle M RobertsonTheodore K Courtney

Abstract

The sociotechnical systems perspective offers intriguing and potentially valuable insights into problems associated with workplace safety. While formal sociotechnical systems thinking originated in the 1950s, its application to the analysis and design of sustainable, safe working environments has not been fully developed. To that end, a Hopkinton Conference was organised to review and summarise the state of knowledge in the area and to identify research priorities. A group of 26 international experts produced collaborative articles for this special issue of Ergonomics, and each focused on examining a key conceptual, methodological and/or theoretical issue associated with sociotechnical systems and safety. In this concluding paper, we describe the major conference themes and recommendations. These are organised into six topic areas: (1) Concepts, definitions and frameworks, (2) defining research methodologies, (3) modelling and simulation, (4) communications and decision-making, (5) sociotechnical attributes of safe and unsafe systems and (6) potential future research directions for sociotechnical systems research. Sociotechnical complexity, a characteristic of many contemporary work environments, presents potential safety risks...Continue Reading

References

Nov 4, 2000·Applied Ergonomics·C W Clegg
May 17, 2005·Applied Ergonomics·R A HaslamA R Duff
Dec 5, 2006·Quality & Safety in Health Care·P CarayonP Flatley Brennan
Jun 12, 2010·Accident; Analysis and Prevention·Dov Zohar
Apr 23, 2013·Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology·Nancy Leveson
May 21, 2013·Applied Ergonomics·John R Wilson
May 28, 2013·Applied Ergonomics·Ben-Tzion KarshRichard J Holden
Nov 29, 2013·Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine·Michelle RobertsonUNKNOWN CPH-NEW Research Team
Dec 26, 2013·Accident; Analysis and Prevention·Lauren A MurphyPascale Carayon
Mar 12, 2015·Ergonomics·John M FlachW Ian Hamilton
Apr 25, 2015·Ergonomics·Brian M KleinerPeter E D Love

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Citations

Sep 24, 2016·Applied Ergonomics·Patrick WatersonPeter Underwood
Apr 13, 2018·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Siobhán CorriganSam Cromie
Jan 2, 2021·Accident; Analysis and Prevention·Yangpeng WangHwayaw Tam
May 3, 2019·Applied Ergonomics·Jesse V JacobsJoanna L Willetts

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