CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS

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
 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)
 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
 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
 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
 Con’t

•  Conditions
- ineffective guards
- unserviceable tools and equipment
- inadequate warning systems
- bad housekeeping practices
- poor work space illumination
- unhealthy work environment
 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.
 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
 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."
 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
 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.
 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!
 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
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

THE END
 videos

•  http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=CnKMPeV4or8&feature=fvwrel

•  http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=aXRe0HYAUeU&feature=relmfu