Micro-Sociology and the Study of Workplace Accidents and Injury

Abstract

Using empirical material from the recent ministerial inquiry into workplace injuries and fatalities at Tranz Rail, this paper considers the inquiry's question of whether 'any culture or cultures within Tranz Rail may be relevant to the operation of a safe and healthy place of work'. Application of discourse analysis suggests that the culture question is indeed important, but not quite in the areas suggested by some of the contributors to the Tran; Rail inquiry. The paper foregrounds 'textually mediated social organisation' as a key feature of contemporary social worlds, including the workplace.