Céline Chatigny

Qualitative research using numbers: an approach developed in france and used to transform work in north america.

Qualitative research is often opposed to quantitative research. But numbers can play an important role in illustrating analyses in qualitative research. Their persuasive, concrete nature can help ensure the success of a workplace intervention, especially in the North American context, where numbers are treated very seriously. We describe a method of work analysis and transformation developed at the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers in Paris, where the meaning of the numbers used is critical. We think that the numbers used in work analysis have a different meaning from that in a “pure” quantitative study, where they are submitted to statistical procedures for hypothesis testing. Using examples from recent studies carried out in Québec and Canada in collaboration with unions or joint health and safety committees, we show that counting can be part of qualitative analysis, enrich our portrait of organizational and physical aspects of the work process, and help indicate pathways for workplace improvement.

Repetitive Strain in Nonrepetitive Work: A Case Study

In a Québec factory, a woman in a nontraditional job suffered from epicondylitis whereas her male coworkers were unaffected. A study was undertaken in order to enumerate the operations at risk for epicondylitis. Workers were interviewed in order to identify difficult operations and systematic observations were done over 4 work days. Although tasks were extremely varied, certain movements at risk for epicondylitis were repeated many times. Fifty-three valves were turned against resistance as part of this job, and one valve requiring a particularly difficult movement was turned 20 times in one day. There were at least 61 operations at risk for epicondylitis per day over a 4-day period. Strain on the elbow joint was particularly intense for the woman worker because the design of the workplace gave an advantage to taller workers with larger hands. Although this case study does not permit us to conclude that the workers epicondylitis was due to her job, it enables us to suggest that it would be wise to adapt the dimensions of relevant equipment and worksites to a wider range of potential worker sizes. We also raise some questions about the definition of repetitive strain in epidemiological studies. We suggest that it may be necessary to consider not only the cycle time but also the total of forces exerted on a joint in order to study workplace injuries to the musculoskeletal system.

Health and safety of students in vocational training in Quebec: a gender issue?

Health and safety issues in a vocational training center were explored in this study. Several sources and methods were used: group interviews with students in traditionally female [F] and male [M] trades, i.e. hairdressing (7 F) and automated systems electromechanics (8 M, 1 F); self-administered questionnaires on injuries sustained at the school; observations of activities in these programs; and analysis of ministerial documents. Findings indicate that the partially divergent ways that OHS is addressed in these programs cannot be explained only by the specific characteristics of the two trades. Some aspects put female students in hairdressing at a disadvantage: status accorded to OHS in the study programs, learning activities, and conditions for learning and managing prevention and injuries. The discussion focuses on a gender-differentiated analysis, the importance of improving the way OHS is addressed in the programs, in particular, those primarily involving female students, and the need to pursue research. In addition, the results from individual interviews with women (5 F) training for non-traditional trades lead to discussion on the interrelated effects of sex-based gender and professional gender.

Apprenticeship in a work setting: the contribution and limits of operational resources constructed by workers

Abstract This ergonomic comparative study of apprenticeship situations in a work setting was conducted in two types of occupations that differ in terms of work requirements and learning. Our objective was to gain an understanding of aspects in the environment that promote or hinder the construction of occupational knowledge and the strategies implemented to solve problems that arise. Our results show that the “operational resources” constructed by workers play a role in fostering or allowing learning. We also identified several organizational factors that hinder the development of occupational knowledge, as well as their ensuing human costs. An ergonomic analysis allowed us to determine the global strategies and types of resources used in both industries. These results should be validated in other work environments in order to develop diagnostic tools for apprenticeship situations, changes to them and improvements in occupational training programs.

On-the-Job Mentoring in a Machine Shop: An Important But Imperfect Experience for Apprentices

An exploratory study carried out by researchers in anthropology, workplace health and safety and ergonomics raised questions about the dynamics of knowledge construction in connection with age, experience, culture and work organization. In a machine shop participating in an on-the-job mentoring program, it was observed that official mentors play a secondary role compared to other workers, and that several factors influence mentoring relationships.

Observations Between Quantitative and Qualitative Methods: Shared Contributions from an Ergonomist and an Occupational Psychologist

Dialogue between the activity clinic approach in occupational psychology and the activity ergonomics is part of the common history of our disciplines. We suggest going on feeding it with our singular cross-eyes with the reciprocal objective of deepening, at this stage of our debates, the questions of actions that drive us on how to define observation, its goals, the place it takes in the intervention, modalities, contributions sought for the various actors in the organization of work and its stakes in terms of transformations, efficiency and health at work. Observation is a common method in both our approaches, which are known to place their interventions and research in the co-construction of methodological frameworks with the relevant actors. We will draw attention to the relevance of using quantitative methods and tools to improve preventing problems such as musculoskeletal disorders.

The Conditions for Apprenticeship in a Work Situation: Margins of Maneuver and Resources to be Changed by the Individual, the Group and the Organization

An ergonomic analysis of the learning conditions and strategies in two types of occupations demonstrates the existence of various degrees of use and construction of organizational, human and material resources. These strategies are individual and collective, and focus on an increase in the margin of maneuver for doing and learning how to do the work in an efficient way. They play a major role but are developed and implemented under conditions that often make them costly because they are limited by the margin of maneuver imposed by the companies.