Effects of Practices of Belonging on Accident and Illness Prevention in Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

This chapter draws on an empirical study to describe the importance of context in the prevention of accidents and illness in the work-place. The empirical data are based on individual and group interviews with employers and employees of small and medium-sized enterprises as well as with occupational health and safety experts. The analysis shows that cultural aspects and internal communication processes have a major impact on how prevention is understood and implemented. The results can be condensed into the proposition that prevention may come into conflict with the practices that generate belonging in the work-place. Questions that arise from this include “Which communication processes and emotional meanings are realized with belonging?” and “How do these meanings interact with rules concerning prevention?” Further, it is suggested to describe the concept of belonging in terms of “stereotypes”, “degree of empathy”, “coherence”, and “continuity”. These considerations result in suggestions on how inhibiting and facilitating factors for illness prevention might be examined in future comprehensive studies of work-place interventions.