Talk, Safety Science and Culture Change in Human Services in Two States: Some Insights from an Anthropological Study

Abstract

For human services professionals, safety is a practical and professional commitment. However, so far the human service community has made little use of the safety science literature. Using qualitative methods this paper tracks how the introduction of a safety science model to the human service organizations in two states resulted in shifts in talk about accidents and work. This in turn led to insight and positive change in these human service organizations and for their clients.