Occupational Safety and Health Coordinators – Puzzle-piece Caretakers or Necessary Evils
The construction industry continues to be high-risk in terms of occupational safety and health (OSH) issues. A pivotal instrument in preventing these risks at both European and Danish levels is the OSH coordinator. In spite of the important role of the coordinator, little research on their roles an...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Aalborg University
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://tidsskrift.dk/njwls/article/view/132249 |
| _version_ | 1819059611060142080 |
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| author | Jeppe Zielinski Nguyen Ajslev Jeppe Lykke Møller Ika Elisabeth Ejstrup Nimb |
| author_facet | Jeppe Zielinski Nguyen Ajslev Jeppe Lykke Møller Ika Elisabeth Ejstrup Nimb |
| author_sort | Jeppe Zielinski Nguyen Ajslev |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The construction industry continues to be high-risk in terms of occupational safety and health (OSH) issues. A pivotal instrument in preventing these risks at both European and Danish levels is the OSH coordinator. In spite of the important role of the coordinator, little research on their roles and functions exist, and critics have pointed out that OSH professionals in general may only confer limited impact on preventive OSH work. This study argues that professional identities and struggles to maintain preferred, as well as rejecting unwanted identities are highly important to understand OSH coordinators’ practices. The study investigates OSH coordinators professional identities and their implications for practice through analysis of interviews with 12 experienced OSH coordinators in the Danish construction industry. The study reveals how struggles for maintaining a positive self-image and social recognition may explain why coordinators struggle to prioritize preventing OSH risks over legitimization and social practices.
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| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T14:13:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cec4d8bf39b64c2ab9cf65c0a8c30d44 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2245-0157 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T14:13:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Aalborg University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-cec4d8bf39b64c2ab9cf65c0a8c30d442022-12-21T19:00:58ZengAalborg UniversityNordic Journal of Working Life Studies2245-01572022-04-01Occupational Safety and Health Coordinators – Puzzle-piece Caretakers or Necessary EvilsJeppe Zielinski Nguyen Ajslev0Jeppe Lykke Møller1Ika Elisabeth Ejstrup Nimb2The National Research Centre for the Working EnvironmentThe National Research Centre for the Working EnvironmentThe National Research Centre for the Working Environment The construction industry continues to be high-risk in terms of occupational safety and health (OSH) issues. A pivotal instrument in preventing these risks at both European and Danish levels is the OSH coordinator. In spite of the important role of the coordinator, little research on their roles and functions exist, and critics have pointed out that OSH professionals in general may only confer limited impact on preventive OSH work. This study argues that professional identities and struggles to maintain preferred, as well as rejecting unwanted identities are highly important to understand OSH coordinators’ practices. The study investigates OSH coordinators professional identities and their implications for practice through analysis of interviews with 12 experienced OSH coordinators in the Danish construction industry. The study reveals how struggles for maintaining a positive self-image and social recognition may explain why coordinators struggle to prioritize preventing OSH risks over legitimization and social practices. https://tidsskrift.dk/njwls/article/view/132249Health, Working Environment & WellbeingIdentity, Meaning & CultureOrganization & Management |
| spellingShingle | Jeppe Zielinski Nguyen Ajslev Jeppe Lykke Møller Ika Elisabeth Ejstrup Nimb Occupational Safety and Health Coordinators – Puzzle-piece Caretakers or Necessary Evils Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies Health, Working Environment & Wellbeing Identity, Meaning & Culture Organization & Management |
| title | Occupational Safety and Health Coordinators – Puzzle-piece Caretakers or Necessary Evils |
| title_full | Occupational Safety and Health Coordinators – Puzzle-piece Caretakers or Necessary Evils |
| title_fullStr | Occupational Safety and Health Coordinators – Puzzle-piece Caretakers or Necessary Evils |
| title_full_unstemmed | Occupational Safety and Health Coordinators – Puzzle-piece Caretakers or Necessary Evils |
| title_short | Occupational Safety and Health Coordinators – Puzzle-piece Caretakers or Necessary Evils |
| title_sort | occupational safety and health coordinators puzzle piece caretakers or necessary evils |
| topic | Health, Working Environment & Wellbeing Identity, Meaning & Culture Organization & Management |
| url | https://tidsskrift.dk/njwls/article/view/132249 |
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