Developments in the safety science domain, in the fields of general and safety management between 1970 and 1979, the year of the near disaster on Three Mile Island, a literature review

Is big data risk assessment a novelty?

“…It will be restricted to developments in metaphors, models and theories on accident causation (Swuste et al, 2010(Swuste et al, , 2015Swuste, Van Gulijk, Zwaard, & Oostendorp, 2014). The two research questions below will be central to this paper:…”

Speaking of safety

“…After the Second World War the scientific focus concerning occupational safety shifts from a psychological view -which was thought to contribute little to the prevention of accidents-towards 'technology, epidemiology, and ergonomics' (Swuste et al, 2014, p. 24). This shift in views is due to a combination of new scientific insights, accidents resulting from the upscaling of complex chemical production processes, and increased anxiety among the general public concerning industrial disasters and pollution (Swuste et al, 2014;Swuste, Van Gulijk, Zwaard, Lemkowitz, Oostendorp, & Groeneweg, 2016). From a technological viewpoint, the solution was sought in adapting machines and installations as to prevent that workers' mistakes would lead to accidents.…”

“…Within the professional domain it was thought that it was easier and cheaper to influence human behaviour than to adapt the work environment and machinery (Swuste et al, 2014). Swuste et al (2016) state that although during the 1970s some steps were made towards integrating the insights and knowledge from different disciplines, the two approaches to safety remained largely distinct. On the one hand safety was addressed through the more technical process safety approach, focusing on systems theory and the technical aspects of production, while on the other hand safety was addressed through a human centred approach (Swuste et al, 2016).…”

“…Swuste et al (2016) state that although during the 1970s some steps were made towards integrating the insights and knowledge from different disciplines, the two approaches to safety remained largely distinct. On the one hand safety was addressed through the more technical process safety approach, focusing on systems theory and the technical aspects of production, while on the other hand safety was addressed through a human centred approach (Swuste et al, 2016). The latter approach mirrored the idea of the accident proneness theory to the extent that people, not things, were the cause of accidents.…”

“…The latter approach mirrored the idea of the accident proneness theory to the extent that people, not things, were the cause of accidents. However, the human centred approach did place unsafe acts by employees in perspective by acknowledging the complexity of the organisational context, and social and management and social influences (Swuste et al, 2016).…”