Accidents occur due to a combination of unsafe acts and unsafe conditions. Unsafe acts include not following safety procedures, taking shortcuts, or being distracted. Unsafe conditions involve poor housekeeping, lack of guards on equipment, or other environmental hazards. A series of factors such as personal limitations, job stresses, lack of training, and poor supervision can contribute to unsafe behaviors and conditions that lead to accidents. Maintaining good housekeeping, following all safety rules, and focusing on the task are important for preventing accidents in the workplace.
2. What is an Accident?
• an unplanned event
• an unplanned incident involving injury or
fatality
• a series of events culminating in an
unplanned and unforeseen event
3. How do accident occurs?
• Accidents (with or without injuries) occur when
a series of unrelated events coincide at a certain
time and space.
• This can be from a few events to a series of a
dozen or more
(Because the coincidence of the series of events
is a matter of luck, actual accidents only happen
infrequently)
4. Accident causes
• Unsafe Act
- an act by the injured person or another person
(or both) which caused the accident,
and/or
• Unsafe Condition
- some environmental or hazardous situation which
caused the accident independent of the employee
5. Incident Occurrence
• Type
- struck by - struck against
- slip, trip - fell from
- caught on - fell on
same level
- caught in - overexertion
• Contact with
- electricity - equipment
- noise - vibration
- hazmat - heat/cold
- radiation - animals/insects
6. Immediate causes
• Practices
- operating without authority
- use equipment improperly
- not using PPE (Personal
Protection Equipment) when
required
- correct lifting procedures not
established
- drinking or drug use
- equipment not properly secured
7. Con’t
• Conditions
- ineffective guards
- unserviceable tools and equipment
- inadequate warning systems
- bad housekeeping practices
- poor work space illumination
- unhealthy work environment
8. Poor Housekeeping:
• When clients, managers or safety
professionals walk through your work site,
housekeeping is an accurate indicator of
everyone's attitude about quality, production
and safety.
• Poor housekeeping creates hazards of all
types. A well maintained area sets a standard
for others to follow. Good housekeeping
involves both pride and safety.
9. Basic Causes
• Personal Factors
- lack of knowledge or skill
- improper motivation
- physical or mental condition
- literacy or ability
• Job Factors
- Physical environment
- sub-standard equipment
- abnormal usage
- wear and tear
- inadequate standards
- design and maintenance
10. Mental Distractions from
Work:
• Having a bad day at home and worrying about
it at work is a hazardous combination.
Dropping your 'mental' guard can pull your
focus away from safe work procedures.
• You can also be distracted when you're busy
working and a friend comes by to talk while
you are trying to work.
• Don't become a statistic because you took
your eyes off the machine "just for a minute."
11. Con’t
• Supervisory Performance
- inadequate instructions
- failure of SOPs
- rules not enforced
- hazards not corrected
- devices not provided
• Management Policy and
Decisions
- set measurable standards
- measure work in progress
- evaluate work vs. standards
- correct performance
12. Starting a Task with
Incomplete Instructions
• To do the job safely and right the first time you
need complete information.
• Don't be shy about asking for explanations
about work procedures and safety
precautions.
13. Ignoring Safety
Procedures
• Purposely failing to observe safety procedures
can endanger you and your co-workers.
• You are being paid to follow the company
safety policies-not to make your own rules.
Being "casual" about safety can lead to a
casualty!
14. Taking Shortcuts
o Every day we make decisions we hope
will make the job faster and more efficient.
o Shortcuts that reduce your safety on the
job are not shortcuts, but an increased
chance for you to be injured
15. Accident Ratio Study
Serious or Disabling
1
10 Minor Injuries
30 Property Damage
600 Accidents with no visible injury or
damage
6000 Unsafe Acts or Conditions
