Actor-network theory for safety science: Reassembling social and technical elements

Recent studies suggest challenges in the development of Safety Science, being, the broadening of methodological perspectives for the comprehension of sociotechnical work, incentives so that the effects of complexity can be analyzed with greater depth and, for safety research to become politically oriented in its models. This study explores contributions of Actor-Network Theory as a methodological resource to reassemble human and non-human elements in safety science research, especially when we consider the dynamic reality, the variability and uncertainty that are characteristic of complex sociotechnical systems. In the light of the theoretical elements of the Actor-Network Theory, such as controversies, political ontologies, enactment, we discuss possibilities to the cartography of controversies in safety science studies. The discussion contributes, thus, with new methodological connections to research in safety science, exploring associations and new positions among different realities in the field.