Abstract
The following chapter examines different perspectives on the causes of occupational ill health, focusing in particular on industrial accidents and injury rates. The author explores the nature of risk discourses which have shaped occupational safety management and regulation. Apparently neutral, official voices have in fact tended to give disproportionate weighting to various forms of methodological individualism in the analysis of injury rates. Hence the psychology or behaviour of individual workers has often been the focus of attention, while the social and economic determinants of accidents have been played down or ignored. There is clearly a need to redress this imbalance. In highlighting the importance of social processes of causation linked to factors such as the business cycle, industry characteristics, social relationships and political strategies, Theo Nichols demonstrates the importance of the contribution that the social sciences can make to occupational health research.
This chapter is based on a public lecture given at the University of Bristol in February 1995. Many of the issues raised are explored more extensively in Theo Nichols (1997) The Sociology of Industrial Injury. London: Mansell.
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© 1999 Theo Nichols
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Nichols, T. (1999). Death and Injury at Work: A Sociological Approach. In: Daykin, N., Doyal, L. (eds) Health and Work. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-27625-7_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-27625-7_6
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
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