Accidents /Hazardous Incidents.

By

Jim McCann

Unforeseen occurrence or event ????

There is a consensus amongst many safetyspecialists that there are four distinct phases to

what is referred to as an accident.

Contributing factors The Principle cause(s) The accident or incident The consequences of the accident

The Four Main Areas

Main Distinctions

Contributing

factorsPrinciple

Cause

The AccidentConsequences

of the Accident

Poor training, supervision or instruction

Safety rules not enforced

Poor planning

Poor maintenance systems

Safety devices not provided

The Environment

Ergonomics

Lack of safety awareness Aptitude and ability Poor attitude towards safety Tiredness, slow mental reaction Inattention Emotional state Physical make up Illness Alcohol / drugs

Hearing impaired

Poor eyesight

Physical disabilities

Medical condition(s)

Protective equipment or guard not used Manual handling (failure to allow for sharp or

slippery objects and pinch points, Poor lifting techniques, loose grip, etc.)

Wrong equipment being used. Poorly maintained tools and equipment Poor housekeeping (slips, trips & falls) Horseplay

Broken safety devices

No safety devices

Inappropriate use of Hazardous substances

Improper dress or apparel for the job

Poor illumination /environment

Fall

Slip

Trip

Strike against

Caught in or between

Erupt or explode

Burn

Ejection

CENTIPEDE: Contact, Entanglement, Nips & Traps, Impact & Projections, Ejections, Discharge & Environmental.

NECTRE: Noise & Vibration, Electricity, Chemical, Temperature, Radiation, Explosion

Annoyance Machinery, down time Reduced moral Man hours lost Minor injuries Disabling injuries Fatality Costs – Legal, Productivity, Medical aid,

Insurance premiums, Compensation, Investigation times, Defence times……..Hassel

Prison, Fines & loss of reputation

Fatalities

Loss of Hand, Foot, Thumb or Eye

Broken Arm or Leg, Hip

Fractured Skull

Electrocution

Poisoning

Reportable / Proscribed diseases

Collapse of Scaffolding

Overturning of a crane/tower, failure of load bearing parts

Collapse of a trench

A hazard is anything that can cause harm, A Risk is thelikelihood high or low of that harm being realised.It is all too easy to identify the principal and contributingcauses of an accident after it has occurred. The difficult partcomes when you have to predict when an accident is likelyto happen and what would be the probable outcome. Whenan accident does occur, it is an indication that someone orsomething along the line has gone wrong and unsafeconditions have been created. Managers, supervisor, UnionReps and Employees will need to have a workingknowledge of the fundamental steps that need to be takento ensure effective control of the contributing causes ofaccidents in order to reduce the risks to as low as isreasonably practicable.