Cheng Y H
Department of Community Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Soc Sci Med. 1997 Sep;45(5):739-50. doi: 10.1016/s0277-9536(96)00410-8.
In this paper, an attempt is made to explore how people respond to injuries at work among a group of hand-injured workers in the context of contemporary Hong Kong society. Qualitative research methods were adopted. A "focused interview" by means of open-ended questions was employed to investigate those workers who have suffered from work-related injury for over 10 years. Concerning the perceived cause of the injury, the industrial production process such as machine defects, piecework, limited working experience, and lack of supervision triggered the onset of the injuries which resulted in permanent disability. At the same time, respondents tellingly explained their injury in terms of magical-religious forces such as fate and luck. This kind of understanding is embraced in cultural beliefs that are commonly found among Chinese. Such understandings appear fatalistic but allow the individual to actively cope with such misfortune. The emphasis on harmony and stability among Chinese also affected what action they took against the employer for negligence. It was shown that in general many respondents were bound by kuan-hsi (personal relationship) and tended to preserve the harmony between themselves and their employer. In modern societies like Hong Kong, traditional values and modern practices are complementary to each other in coping with life stresses such as disablement. Modernity does not provide a solid means for people to have more control over their lives. Many people still stick to their habituated lifestyle as a guiding light in day-to-day matters. Concerning risk assessment in relation to work safety, workers' value systems and practices on the shopfloor should be taken into consideration.
本文试图探讨在当代香港社会背景下，一群手部受伤工人如何应对工伤。采用了定性研究方法。通过开放式问题进行“焦点访谈”，以调查那些遭受工伤超过10年的工人。关于受伤的感知原因，工业生产过程，如机器缺陷、计件工作、工作经验有限和缺乏监督引发了导致永久残疾的伤害。同时，受访者用命运和运气等神奇宗教力量来生动地解释他们的受伤情况。这种理解在中国普遍存在的文化信仰中得到认同。这种理解看似宿命论，但能让个人积极应对这种不幸。中国人对和谐与稳定的强调也影响了他们因雇主疏忽而采取的行动。结果表明，总体而言，许多受访者受关系（人际关系）的束缚，倾向于维护自己与雇主之间的和谐。在香港这样的现代社会，传统价值观和现代做法在应对诸如残疾等生活压力方面相互补充。现代性并没有为人们提供更有力的手段来更好地掌控自己的生活。许多人在日常事务中仍然坚持习惯的生活方式作为指导。关于与工作安全相关的风险评估，应该考虑工人在车间的价值体系和做法。
