Safety understandings among crane operators and process operators on a Norwegian offshore platform

This paper gives an account of two typical ways of thinking drawn on by process operators and crane operators on a Norwegian offshore platform in the North Sea as they interpret, negotiate and define situations as hazardous. The discretion required for definitions of situations as dangerous is also discussed. The data presented are a result of 14 formal, semi structured interviews as well as several informal talks with the leaders on the platform. The study presented in this paper is based on a modified version of the interpretive approach to culture in organizations inspired by Clifford Geertz, Mats Alvesson, Diane Vaughan and Anne Richter. It is labeled as a modified version because it centers on the work processes of the interviewees. It is concluded that the completely different work processes of the work groups seem to generate different hazard metaphors, ways of thinking and ideas about discernments. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.