Citation

Dyhrberg MB, Jensen PL. Safety Sci. 2004; 42(10): 961-977.

Affiliation

Department of Manufacturing Engineering and Management, Technical University of Denmark

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ssci.2004.04.003

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Lately, requests have been made to include the contexts of enterprises in models to prevent accidents at work. This paper presents different contextual theories in order to analyze whether this type of theory could be a way to elaborate our understanding of context. A differentiation is made between (a) theories of understanding relations between enterprises and regulatory agencies and (b) theories to perceive the relation between enterprise and the broader context. The last group of theories has its point of departure in an organizational understanding diverging from the classical, rational understanding of organizations and organizational processes. The conclusion is that contextual theories open for an elaborated understanding of the role of contextual relations in accident prevention, but also that an investigation of the potentials for making the theories action-orientated is needed.