Professional Societies, Interorganizational Linkages and Occupational Health Policy Reform

This article explores the influence of interorganizational linkages upon the policy decisions of professional societies concerning proposed federal occupational health legislation. The specific focus is on the policies of seven associations of health and safety professionals regarding the proposed “High Risk Act” of 1985-88. In contrast to new class theories viewing professionals as generally supportive of reform policies, in the theoretical perspective presented here, professional societies' positions reflect the influence of structural linkages tying their members, leaders, and organizations to either the public or corporate sectors. A comparative research design using data from interviews and archival sources is employed. Multiple linkages between associations and the public sector were typically associated with policies of strong support for the High Risk legislation while multiple linkages to the corporate sector produced opposite outcomes. Contextual events and circumstances intersect with structural linkages to both reinforce and modify predicted association policy positions.