Coping with exposure to toxic substances at work: the utopia of ergotoxicology according to Alain Garrigou

Abstract Ergotoxicology is a discipline, a specialty of ergonomics focused on understanding situations in which workers are exposed to dangerous products. It is also a technology that seeks to design work situations in order to reduce or eliminate the exposures they experience. The research carried out and/or coordinated by Alain Garrigou, in various sectors such as agriculture, industry, nuclear production, among others, has contributed to: expanding the notion of exposure in order to consider the active role of workers in preventing and preserving their health; the development of research methods co-elaboreted with the participants and the community involved; the application of design methods and participation in work situations and equipment design. In addition, the knowledge produced serves to influence the social debate and, consequently, public actions and policies aimed at preventing and protecting the health of workers, especially in the face of pesticide use.