The Languages of Safety

Abstract

Human and organizational factors (HOF) specialists have worked hard to develop a body of methods, tools, concepts, etc., that allow them to fulfil their mission in a professional way within their companies. Yet they are often frustrated and feel that they do not get the attention they deserve. Several of the chapters of the present volume can be read as invitations for HOF specialists to develop a different approach and adopt new types of discourse in order to get more attention from managers. I review four possible �languages� and discuss how and to what extent they would give more power to HOF specialists. I conclude by inviting safety people to use a variety of languages for a variety of audiences.