Learning Real Feelings: A Study of High Steel Ironworkers' Reactions To Fear and Danger

This paper describes how the author came to learn, through nine months of participant observation, how high steel ironworkers feel and act towards the dangers of their work. Ironworkers define much of their work situation as dangerous, and have developed, out of interactions about this common proble...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sociology of Work and Occupations 1977-05, Vol.4 (2), p.147-170
Main Author: Haas, Jack
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Autonomy
Bosses
Communicating
Dangerous
Learning
Occupation
Occupational hazards
Occupations
Organizational environment
Perception
Perceptions
Self interest
Steel industry
Steel making
Steels
Work environment
Workers
Workplace control
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Summary:This paper describes how the author came to learn, through nine months of participant observation, how high steel ironworkers feel and act towards the dangers of their work. Ironworkers define much of their work situation as dangerous, and have developed, out of interactions about this common problem, collectively shared perspectives for enhancing control over the work situation. These processes of control include testing and assessing other workers, communicating these evaluations to others, and establishing worker reputations. Similar processes of control are applied to bosses, contractors, and others whose actions impinge on worker autonomy and self-interest. These processes of control are very analogous to those describing other dangerous occupations. The perception of danger by workers in quite different occupations leads them to develop similar mechanisms of control over their work fellows and environment.
ISSN:0730-8884
0093-9285
1552-8464
DOI:10.1177/073088847700400202