Bibliography: pages 195-200. / This thesis will be concerned with trying to develop an understanding of what the difficulties have been in bringing about improvements to the working environment in manufacturing. The role of labour will be of central concern, but an attempt will also be made to analyse the role of the other participants in the regulatory process, namely, the state and employers. The period with which the thesis is concerned is the 1980s. The area is clearly a very broad one and no claims will be made to providing a comprehensive study. Rather, it is hoped that the present study will provide some new data and some original insights into the regulatory process which will provoke further discussion and research in the field of occupational health and safety in South Africa.