How to integrate languages on safety: A participatory information system to improve risk management

Abstract

The chapter presents a participatory method to develop an information system on occupational risk. Sharp-end operators, who constantly deal with unplanned interactions occurring within the socio-technical work system, accumulate a specific experience, centred on risk scenarios rather than on risk factors. To highlight this experience and benefit from the operators’ holistic view on risk, we carried out a descriptive analysis of work activity in three hospital laboratories using an elicitation interview: the “Instructions to the Double”. Several multi-factor risk scenarios emerged. These narrative data were structured into an information system where each work activity is associated with multi-factor risk scenarios. The graphic presentation of work activities and their associated risks provides a common cognitive reference that fosters communication between safety and work domain experts in their different languages, for a more effective and comprehensive risk management.