Abstract

The goal of this project was to identify the management practices related to technological change most likely to reduce the frequency and severity of occupational injuries. The results confirm the existence of a link between management practices and accidents: the best results were observed in companies whose approach to technological change integrated health and safety considerations, and in which worker participation in the change process was the highest. In almost all companies, technological change was accompanied by crucial and wide-ranging transformations of management practices related to health and safety. These transformations best explain the observed improvements in health and safety. Furthermore, the overall management of technological change was improved by the simultaneous transformation of the work climate from one based on confrontation to one based on cooperation.