ABSTRACT
The control of hazards by biological systems to avoid danger and secure survival is as old as life itself. Emergence of organized systems of work, more lethal weapons, and increasingly complex technology has prompted human appreciation of hazard control as a key to safety, security, and productivity. This suggests that management of hazards should represent an integral aspect of macroergonomics. Nevertheless, the recognition of safety as a legitimate management function is relatively recent, emerging in the United States gradually only over the past five decades or so. Further, there is by no means a consensus within the safety community regarding what it is about safety that should be managed. Indeed, “loss control,” “accident prevention,” and “safety” itself are cited far more often than hazards as the proper management focus.
