TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENT OF THE PRODUCTION PROCESS AND ACCIDENTS - AN EQUIVOCAL RELATIONSHIP

This paper deals with the relationship between improvement in production technology and its influence on occupational accidents. Based on a review of the most recent findings concerning technological change and accidents, it proposes a new context of interpretation for a previous article concerning mechanization and accidents in the logging industry. The results obtained then suggested that occupational safety could benefit greatly from the mechanization of production activities. Herein, the focus is broadened to take also into account the influence of technological alternatives other than mechanization, and this in the process as well as in manufacturing industries. Following a review of recent findings, three questions are discussed: (1) convergence in research findings; (2) isolability of the effects of technological improvements on accidents; (3) needs regarding orientations for further studies. It is finally stated that, despite the existence of some tendencies, the relationship between technological innovation and accidents cannot be seen as either uniform or deterministic.