Work Accidents: What Psychology Does in the Face of This Problem

Abstract

In this study, the objective was to understand the contribution of Psychology to the prevention of work accidents and the promotion of workers' health, aiming to provide elements for the practice of professionals who work in organizations. The beginning of Organizational Psychology took place in the First World War; at that time, through psychological testing, he sought to find soldiers with skills that matched the functions they would be performing. Currently, Organizational and Work Psychology focuses on issues of recruitment and selection, training and development of personnel, among other activities. The carrying out of this research is justified due to the social commitment of Psychology in promoting people's health and not only in curative actions. The present bibliographical research evidenced the need for a multidisciplinary action between work safety and human resources for the prevention of accidents, as well as the participation of the other sectors of the organization. It appears that Psychology can contribute to the development of training and programs for employee appreciation and recognition, considerably reducing work accidents. Suggestions for future studies are offered.