"Several of the contributors to this volume have noted the growing interest in more participatory methods of health and social research. This chapter explores these methods in more depth, highlighting ways in which in the workplace in particular the traditional divide between the ‘experts' and the subjects of research is beginning to be challenged. The implications of these new approaches are explored through an examination of studies undertaken in Europe, Africa and Latin America. The authors identify settings where health and safety professionals collaborate with workers' representatives to ensure that the research being undertaken is relevant to their needs and interests. They also outline a more radical approach where traditional modes of scientific endeavour are challenged and workers themselves are given a more active role in occupational health research and in the development of policies to promote healthier workplaces."

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