The project aims to analyse the conditions of safety, health and well-being of workers with temporary contracts, with a particular attention to the differences of gender, age and ethnicity. More specifically, the project focuses on three main directions of analysis. The first is a line of theoretical analysis, which concerns the articulation of new lines of research on safety, health and well-being of workers with non-standard contracts; the second puts the emphasis on the methodological dimension; finally, the third makes reference to applications and knowledge transfer, and aims at assessing risks for workers who live in situations of contractual instability and at producing guidelines to implement management systems of health and safety at work.

The research plan, shared by the partners, involves the development of four phases:

1. Literature review: the first phase of the project is devoted to an in-depth study of theoretical and methodological issues regarding health, safety and temporary work. In particular, a review of the literature on the debate concerning the research topics will be undertaken.

2. Field research: the second phase consists in the core empirical activities, that will be conducted according to two different and complementary approaches:

• secondary analysis of quantitative data concerning accidents and injuries at work within the Province of Trento, with a specific focus on temporary workers.
• Qualitative analysis:
• about 20 interviews addressed to key informants (trade unions, temporary work agencies, public decision makers, etc.);
• 40 in depth interviews with temporary workers, employed in economic sectors with high percentage of work injuries.

3. Development of recommendations: in agreement with the main research findings, specific training courses for enterprises and workers will be developed. The courses will be aimed at accident prevention and promotion of a health and safety culture for temporary workers.

4. Dissemination:

• organization of seminars devoted to the presentation of the research project and of its main findings;
• participation in national and international conferences, publication of articles in specialised journals, publication of a volume;
• promotion of the research through the official web sites of the project partners.

Researchers: Maurizio Catino (coordinator), Chiara Locatelli (Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca); Silvia Gherardi (scientific supervisor), Elisa Bellè, Attila Bruni, Anna Carreri,  Francesco Miele, Annalisa Murgia, Barbara Poggio, Alberto Zanutto (Department of Sociology and Social Research of the University of Trento); Fabio Rosario Lo Faro (Director) Daniela Donati, Silvio Bertoldi, Elena Trombetta (INAIL - Direzione provinciale di Trento); Donato Lombardi (Agenzia del Lavoro di Trento); Graziano Maranelli (Director), Silvia Eccher (UOPSAL - Unità Operativa Prevenzione e Sicurezza negli Ambienti di Lavoro dell'Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari).

Period: 2012-2013

Funding: Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Trento e Rovereto
Co-funding: INAIL - Direzione provinciale di Trento, Department of Sociology and Social Research of the University of Trento.