Analyzing Safety Communication in Industrial Contexts

Claas Digmayer RWTH Aachen University ; Eva-Maria Jakobs RWTH Aachen University

Abstract

Work in industrial contexts is confronted with various risks, which are further amplified by the trend toward Industry 4.0. Approaches are needed to examine safety communication (SC) in such changing environments. Existing studies focus on individual SC means and quantitative evaluation measures. This article proposes a qualitative approach for analyzing SC with which a process chain in a metal-working company is investigated. The results reveal that SC is implemented as a complex system of communicative means. Weaknesses in this system entail several problems at the level of both workplaces and process chains. Due to a lack of digitalization, SC does not meet the requirements of Industry 4.0. Several task areas for communication professionals are identified in optimizing SC. These include content preparation for existing SC means according to work contexts and related tasks, creating digital SC content, and increasing the companies’ resilience to novel risks.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2022-07-01
DOI
10.1177/00472816211014126
CompPile
Open Access
OA PDF Hybrid
Topics
Export

Citation context

Cited by in this index (1)

  1. Technical Communication Quarterly

References (79) · 15 in this index

  1. Industry 4.0, urban development and German international development cooperation: Acatech…
  2. 10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000724
     ↗
  3. 10.1007/978-3-319-95129-4_12
     ↗
  4. Journal of Human Ergology
  5. 10.1016/j.ssci.2018.06.012
     ↗
Show all 79 →
  1. Wildauer Schriftenreihe Interkulturelle Kommunikation: Vol. 6. Technik und Kultur
  2. Technical Communication
  3. 10.1108/00483481011017426
     ↗
  4. Technical Communication
  5. What writing does and how it does it: An introduction to analyzing texts and textual prac…
  6. 10.3390/safety4040044
     ↗
  7. 10.3390/su11020384
     ↗
  8. Technical Communication Quarterly
  9. Brettel M., Friederichsen N., Keller M., Rosenberg M. (2014). How virtualization, decentralization and networ…
  10. 10.1037/a0016172
     ↗
  11. 10.1016/j.aap.2010.01.003
     ↗
  12. Improving safety culture: A practical guide
  13. Cornelissen, P. A. (2019). Speaking of safety . University of Twe…
     ↗
  14. 10.1016/j.jsr.2017.06.009
     ↗
  15. Technical Communication
  16. What works in delivering improved health and safety outcomes: A review of the existing evidence
  17. 10.1002/ffo2.23
     ↗
  18. Deleted for blind review & Spinuzzi C (2014). 20 Professional domains: Writing as creation of economic value.…
     ↗
  19. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  20. Occupational health and safety management systems—Requirements with guidance for use (450…
  21. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  22. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  23. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  24. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  25. 10.1016/j.ssci.2010.01.012
     ↗
  26. 10.1080/15578771.2014.886642
     ↗
  27. 10.1016/S0925-7535(00)00013-8
     ↗
  28. 10.1016/S0925-7535(00)00014-X
     ↗
  29. 10.1016/j.ssci.2012.05.013
     ↗
  30. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  31. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  32. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  33. 10.1037/0021-9010.84.2.286
     ↗
  34. Safety-I and Safety-II: The past and future of safety management
  35. 10.1016/j.aap.2013.04.030
     ↗
  36. 10.1016/j.ssci.2007.04.005
     ↗
  37. Jakobs, E.M. & Spinuzzi, C. (2014). Professional domains: Writing as creation of economic value. In E.M. Jako…
     ↗
  38. 10.1016/j.sysarc.2020.101914
     ↗
  39. 10.3390/safety4010005
     ↗
  40. Karreman, J., van Norel, N., Uiters, E. & Beaujean, D. (2014, October). How to design work related informatio…
     ↗
  41. Technical Communication
  42. 10.1080/014492999118913
     ↗
  43. 10.1016/j.shaw.2016.02.002
     ↗
  44. 10.1016/j.jsr.2010.06.005
     ↗
  45. 10.1007/978-3-319-77492-3
     ↗
  46. 10.1016/j.ssci.2014.04.012
     ↗
  47. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  48. 10.1016/S0925-7535(02)00011-5
     ↗
  49. 10.1016/j.jsr.2006.06.004
     ↗
  50. 10.1080/00335638409383686
     ↗
  51. Mohammadfam, I., Kamalinia, M., Momeni, M., Golmohammadi, R., Hamidi, Y. & Soltanian, A. (2017). Evaluation o…
     ↗
  52. 10.3390/safety5030051
     ↗
  53. 10.1016/j.jsr.2013.10.003
     ↗
  54. 10.1016/j.ssci.2014.11.020
     ↗
  55. 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2005.07.043
     ↗
  56. Nuclear Safety
  57. 10.1016/j.ssci.2014.11.018
     ↗
  58. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  59. The rhetoric of risk: Technical documentation in hazardous environments. Rhetoric, knowle…
  60. 10.1016/j.procir.2014.05.016
     ↗
  61. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  62. 10.7551/mitpress/6875.001.0001
     ↗
  63. 10.1145/344599.344646
     ↗
  64. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  65. Communication for business
  66. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  67. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  68. 10.1016/j.jsr.2009.09.005
     ↗
  69. 10.1016/j.aap.2013.07.029
     ↗
  70. 10.1207/s15327108ijap1402_1
     ↗
  71. 10.1007/978-981-13-2751-3_5
     ↗
  72. Organizational communication: Foundations for business & collaboration
  73. 10.1111/j.1464-0597.2010.00421.x
     ↗
  74. 10.1016/j.ssci.2017.03.001
     ↗