The aim of this paper is to lay out a theory of the political economy of the work environment or the point of production, with the view that production - what goes on in the factory, the office and the warehouse - determines much of what goes on in people's heads, how they think about their world and how they view social relations, hierarchy, politics , and themselves. Although the proposed theory discusses and explains the structural and historical developments in health and safety in advanced capitalist societies, especially the United States and Western Europe, it is also applicable to developing countries. Overall, the theory provides a framework for assessing the roles of key actors, beliefs about the social relations of production, dominant ideological assumptions, underlying the role of science in work environment policy, and the impact of global economic conditions on occupational and environmental health. Moreover, the theory also suggests that the central questions facing those concerned about the consequences to public health of modern technology originate within the point of production.
Learning Objectives: 1) Articulate the main points proposed by a theory of the political economy of the work environment 2) Identify the key social actors involved in work environment struggles 3) Apply the theoretical framework to analyze work environment problems and formulate policies to solve them
Keywords: Occupational Health, Environmental Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.