Den riskfyllda gemenskapen : Att hantera säkerhet på ett passagerarfartyg

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study was to examine how cultural processes and organisational conditions influence safety management in complex sociotechnical contexts. The object of investigation was a passenger ship where interviews and observations had been conducted for one year. The ambition was to understand definitions of risk and safety that arise on board the ship.The study focuses on situations that are described and identified as risks, rather on "objective" risks. How are dangers and risks constructed, and whose interpretations are prioritised in safety management. Focus in the study was put on significance of different "communities of practice" and the way gender relations influenced the community spirit and cooperation aboard.The study demonstrates that cultural processes are closely related to organisational structures and even affect the organization's practices and ability to deal with safety issues. A hierarchical organization cannot suddenly become equal. Furthermore, in these contexts, organizations have a tendency to be understood as gender-neutral, but women are still "the second sex" in organizations and continue to be reproduced as such. This study contributed to the understanding that the concepts of risk and safety are ideologically charged in a complex sociotechnical system.