SAFE AND/OR SECURE? DEALING WITH UNCERTAINTIES IN HIGH-RISK INDUSTRIES

Our societies are facing an increasing number of crises. These may be rooted in non-intentional or intentional and malevolent acts or a mix of both. In order to prevent and mitigate the threats confronting them, high-risk industries, including defense industries, chemical facilities, energy corporations or nuclear power plants, among others, have developed over time measures to enhance first and foremost their safety, and subsequently, their security. In consequence, safety and security policies have been developed separately and in non-mutually informed ways. Yet, both safety and security have an impact on employees’ daily work and the discrepancies between their aims and practices may increase high-risk industries’ vulnerability. To face these tensions, employees of such organizations, already working in uncertain environments, have to balance and articulate contradictory measures and handle the resulting uncertainties.