Accidents in the workplace: Reasons, Classification and Control

Rodrigo Rivera Del Canto Erick Maya Sessarego Duerly Das 12th November

Introduction
Accidents in the workplace make up the basis of the study of Industrial Safety. It focuses on prevention of these accidents, studying the causes (why they happen), the sources (the compromised activity of the accident), the agents (who was involved), the type (what the cause was and what happened). All of these develop the study of preventing accidents in the workplace.

Work Accidents
Work accident All injuries that a person can suffer because of work that could cause incapacity or death.

Accidents during commute

Any happenings during the commute between home and the workplace or vice cersa.

Causes of work accidents

Accidents happen because people make mistakes or because the equiptment, tools, machines or workplaces are not in adequate condition.

Direct Causes
Human error: (unsafe action): defined as any action or any lack of action by the worker that could cause an accident. Environment origin: (unsafe conditions): defined as any environmental condition that could cause an accident.

Basic causes
Human error: People do not act how they should because:
They dont know how to act properly, mostly due to lack of training. They cant act properly, due to permanent physical inability or some temporary addiction (alcohol and/or drugs). They dont want to act properly, because of a lack of motivation or some other work related problem, like frustation.

Environment origin: Unsafe conditions exist because:

There arent guidelines. The guidelines are inadequate Faulty design, manufacture and installation of machinary. Unusual use of machinary and equipment. Actions of third parties.

Classification of Accidents
The statistics rank accidents according to type. The type of accident can be defined by saying that it is the way in which the contact between the accident and the agent comes about. Accidents when the material moves towards the worker: Knocks, contact, trapping. Accidents when the worker moves towards the material: to stick against, for fall to level, for fall to difference level. Accidents in which the movement is unknown: Excessive force, For expostion.

Accident Control
The development of Indutrial Safety has enabled the implementation of tools that help to prevent accidents and occupational illnesses. Joint Committee: A) 6 workers chosen by the employer, where 3 are permanent and 3 are temporary. B) 6 workers chosen through a vote by their peers, where the first three are permanent and the next 3 are tempoary. (D.S 54)

Health and Safety Department: This department plans, organises, assesses, supervises and promotes permanent actions being taken to avoid accidents in the workplace and professional illnesses.

Accident Control
Internal Rules: All businesses and entities must establish and maintain internal health and safety rules in the workplace which workers are to comply with. The business should train each worker in these rules free of charge (D.S. 40). Right to knowledge: At a convenient and approriate time, employers must inform all their workers of the risks to which they are exposed, the preventative measures that are in place and the correct way in which the worker should carry out their responsibilities (D.S. 50).

Direct cause: The direct cause is generally the result of one or more unsafe actions, conditions or both. Basic cause: Personal factors and work factors. Type of accident: The way in which the accident and the agent come into contact.

Glossary of Technical Vocabulary

Source: Fuente Condition: Condicin Guidelines: Normas Force Majeure: Fuerza Mayor Extraa Right to knowledge: Derecho a saber Joint Committee: Comit Paritario Health and Safety Department: Depto. De Prevencin de Riesgos Work Accidents: Accidente de Trabajo Accidents during commute: Accidente de Trayecto Environmental: Medio Ambiente

Practical Examples
Accident: A pile up on Route 68 leaves at least 5 dead. 12th October 2011 07:48. Incident: The preliminary causes are thought to be the sudden brake of a small vehicle and the low visibility of the motorway caused by fog and the alleged burning of grassland nearby. 12th October 2011 07.48.

Accident in the workplace: 33 miners trapped by a landslide in the San Jos mine Thursday 5th August 2010. Accident during the commute: Juan Manuel is 42 years old. Two years ago he returned home after an exhausting day at work. To avoid the zebra crossing, he decided to cross in the middle of the road on Valsquez Avenue, between Lastarria and Juan No and was run over by a private vehicle. La Estrella de Arica 24/08/2008.

Video about work accident

Conclusion
Our group think about of accidente it is a problem today in the business, the responsability is shared by the wrokers and the business.

Today the business have the responsibility to protect the workers, and teach them about possible dangerous in the workplace. It is common a for businnes to allow workers to put photos or their families on the walls. This encourages workers to be responsible so that they can return home safely to their family. The workers and their lives and healt should be the priority of a business, not money.