1. PBOG
The Sociology of Organisational Life...
In defence of Safety at Work
2014...
P – PLAN
B – Patterns of BEHAVIOUR
O – Rational ORGANISATION
G – Legal or other GUIDELINES
Clive Burgess Copyright September 2011 amended January 2014

2. In defence of Safety at Work
2014
The problems of labour in relation to health and safety:
Clive Burgess © 26th January 2014
Aim: to demonstrate the use of PBOG in the sociology of
organisational life. In organisations, risk assessments may
be seen as both controls over hazards in the workplace, and
as controls over workers. This study therefore examines the
use of risk assessments for both the intentional and
unintentional consequences in organisational life.
Clive Burgess Copyright September 2011 amended January 2014

3. In defence of Safety at Work
2014
Empirical Field Test:
The empirical field test was carried out by participant observation,
reviewing risk assessments normally used as a means to control
hazards in the work place. For example, safeguarding Mobile
Security Guards whilst they are driving company vehicles, or on
foot patrols, or attending emergency alarm calls. Controlling
hazards may also involve controlling workers. For example, the
lone workers' hourly check call monitors both the workers' safety
and his attention to the job he is meant to be doing..
“There’s class warfare, all right but it’s my class, the rich class,
that’s making war and we’re winning” –
Warren Buffett (Quote Stein 2006)
Clive Burgess Copyright September 2011 amended January 2014

4. PBOG – Organisational Life
CONSULTATION
PLAN
COMPLY
Patterns of
BEHAVIOUR
TEAMWORK
CONFORM
Legal or Other
GUIDELINES
ASPECTS
Clive Burgess Copyright September 2011
PARTICIPATE
MANAGE
Rational
ORGANISATION

5. PBOG – Organisational Life
MEETINGS
PLAN
SELFREGULATION
SANCTIONS
Legal or Other
GUIDELINES
SOCIAL CONTROLS
Clive Burgess Copyright September 2011
Patterns of
BEHAVIOUR
SUPERVISION
TARGETS
ROLES
&
RESPONSIBILITIES
Rational
ORGANISATION

6. PBOG – Organisational Life
PLAN
Management of
INFORMATION
Management
of
FINANCE
Legal or Other
GUIDELINES
Management of
LEGISLATION
Clive Burgess Copyright September 2011
Patterns of
BEHAVIOUR
Management of
PEOPLE
Management of
OPERATIONS
MANAGEMENT
PRACTICES
Rational
ORGANISATION
Management of
RISKS

7. PBOG – Organisational Life
PLAN
Interpretation of
the
Guidelines
Implementation of
Plan
Direct, Inform, Instruct and Train
all participants in the organisation
Legal or Other
GUIDELINES
Rule by/of LAW
Patterns of
BEHAVIOUR
Rational
ORGANISATION
Definition of the situation
Clive Burgess Copyright September 2011 amended January 2014

8. PBOG – Organisational Life
PLAN
Evaluate or review
Plan
Follow the legal or
other Guidelines
(Rules - Law)
Legal or Other
GUIDELINES
This is how it's done around here
Clive Burgess Copyright
September 2011 amended January 2014
Patterns of
BEHAVIOUR
Cooperate with others
in relation to the situation
Rational
ORGANISATION
Situation

9. PBOG – Organisational Life
PLAN
Participants of the
organisation
will Focus on the plan
and give
feedback about the
plan
Legal or Other
Coordination of effort
GUIDELINES
(Class Struggle)
Patterns of
BEHAVIOUR
In Capitalism
Rational Organisation
Creates Competition
between
Controllers and Producers
Rational
ORGANISATION
We want you to do this with these to produce that 'safely'
Clive Burgess Copyright September 2011amended January 2014

10. PBOG – Organisational Life
PLAN
This is how it must
be done
Internalised plans are
conditioned
by the legal or other
Guidelines
(Rules, Regulation - Law)
Legal or Other
GUIDELINES
Patterns of
BEHAVIOUR
Enforce or encourage participants
to
Follow the Guidelines
(Rules - Law)
Rational
ORGANISATION
An increased level of Competence comes through practice,
skills, knowledge and experience, time served, and certification
Clive Burgess Copyright September 2011 amended January
2014

11. PBOG
The Sociology of Organisational Life...
In defence of Safety at Work
2014...
P – PLAN
B – Patterns of BEHAVIOUR
O – Rational ORGANISATION
G – Legal or other GUIDELINES
Clive Burgess Copyright September 2011 amended January 2014

12. In defence of Safety at Work
2014
‘If we consider industrial relations as a kind of warfare, of
antagonistic co-operation, then,
‘the study of industrial relations as a day-to-day problem is an
examination of the tactics used by both sides to improve their situation’
(Stagner, 1956, p291).
It is a study of management’s attempts to control and manipulate
labour, of its development of specific managerial techniques to
control and raise labour efficiency, of workers resistance to
managerial control, and of trade union attempts to obtain
improvements for labour by collective bargaining, or other trials
of strength.
P11 Problems in the field of Industrial Relations – Problems of labour and
inflation Hilde Behrend © 1984
The proceeding diagrams illustrate the quotes from Behrend and Stagne r
Clive Burgess Copyright September 2011 amended January 2014

13. In defence of Safety at Work 2014
Safe at Work? Ramazzini versus the attack on health and
safety © 2013 Dave Putson Spokesman Books
In the introduction by Mark Sewotka pages vii & viii it says
“Today, there are desperate attempts to reverse those
gains. Our Prime Minister echoes the worst of the 19th
century's irresponsible industrialists when he says health
and safety is an 'albatross round the neck of British
businesses'. The burden to take reasonable and practical
steps to ensure workers can come home at night is what
Cameron objects to when he says he wants to 'kill off
health and safety culture for good'.
Clive Burgess Copyright September 2011 amended January 2014

14. In defence of Safety at Work
2014
Conclusion:
“If Cameron manages to get rid of the Health and
Safety laws in Britain right now, anarchy would
reign supreme, as he would have removed all if not
most of the control mechanisms managers need to
control and manipulate workers... Good luck with
that one”
Clive Burgess © January 2014
Clive Burgess Copyright September 2011 amended January 2014