CAN PARTICIPATORY ERGONOMICS BECOME THE WAY WE DO THINGS IN THIS FIRM- THE SCANDINAVIAN APPROACH TO PARTICIPATORY ERGONOMICS

Under the label 'participatory ergonomics' the idea of establishing ch anges in working conditions through participatory approaches has been a central issue within ergonomics. Tools and procedures have been deve loped and demonstrated beneficial. But how this approach can be establ ished as the way changes are made in firms have only had limited atten tion. In the Scandinavian countries legislation has, through mandatory joint working environment committees, tried to establish an organizat ional unit promoting direct participation. Several studies have showed that the intentions of the legislators are not automatically fulfille d, and they have reviled preconditions for more successful acheivement . This opens for many supplementary regulatory strategies to improve a ctivities in firms, but one has been in focus: establishing formalized management systems within occupational health and safety. This strate gy may be contrary to the general intentions in the laws. Some of the conditions which must be taken into consideration are discussed.