This paper presents a critical review of some traditional work conditions concepts, emphasing the "domino" theory and the personality with accident predisposition. The paper also shows the changes on the work conditions studies approach that have beginned in the seventies, due mainly to the better knowledge about the character of human fails, to the increased losse caused by severe accidentes and to the great changes occuredin the nature of the human work. The subject - work conditions safety - raises nowadays to a theme treated at the strategic level of the companies, being present among the other subjects assigned to company administration responsability, and also present in companies long term politics formulation.
Work conditions; ergonomics; work accidents