Explaining disablement in modern times: Hand-injured workers' accounts of their injuries in Hong Kong

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.