Accident Causes and Prevention

Objectives

◦ Learn to identify the causes of accidents; and
◦ Enumerate systems to control unsafe acts and unsafe conditions

What is NEAR-MISS?

An unexpected event, which under slightly different circumstances, COULD HAVE RESULTED in harm to people, cause damage or loss to properties.

What is Accident?

Accident is an event that is unexpected, unplanned and unwanted that results in harm to people, cause damage or loss to properties.

Types of Accident

•Struck against rigid structure or sharp objects
•Struck by falling or flying objects, sliding or moving parts
•Caught in between objects
•Fall on same level
•Fall on different levels
•Electrocution
•Fire

Accident Theory

Causes of Accidents

• Unsafe Act
 > Performance of a task or other activity in a manner that may threaten the health and/or safety of workers.

Accidents Happen Because of Common Negative Mindsets of Workers About Safety
• Accidents are part of the job
• Accidents can happen but only to other people
• If something is really dangerous, the danger can be clearly seen and avoided
• Its my life so how I work is my business
• As long as I am careful I will be fine
• Taking risks is a sign of courage and bravery

Factors Contributing to Unsafe Acts
• Improper Attitudes
• Physical Limitations
• Inadequate Knowledge or Skills

Improper Attitudes
• Operating Equipment without Authority
• Disregard of SOP or instructions
• Removing Safety Devices
• Using Defective equipment
• Using improper PPEs
• Using PPEs improperly
• Horseplay
•Working in an unsafe posture
• Absent-mindedness / Nervousness
• Willful intent to injure
• Working while under the influence of alcohol or drugs

• Improper lifting and carrying

Physical Limitations
• Defective eyesight
• Muscular weakness due to fatigue
• Impaired hearing

Lack of Knowledge or Skill
• Failure to understand instruction
• Unaware of safe practices
• Unconvinced of safe practices
• Unskilled or unpracticed

• Unsafe Condition
 > The potential of a material, equipment, environment or process to cause harm.

Examples of Unsafe Conditions
• Wet slippery floors
• Unstable stacking of materials
• Protruding re-bars
• Live conductors without insulation
• Equipment without guarding
• Poor storage of combustible materials

Why Accidents Happened?

Generally, an accident happens because of an unsafe act of a worker in the presence of one or several unsafe conditions.

Can Accidents be Prevented?

Systems to Control Unsafe Act
> Education and Training
- Safety Orientation
- Job Instructions
> Visual Awareness
- Posters, Signs, Bulletin Board
> Tool Box Meeting
- A 10-15 minute on-the-job meetings

Controlling Unsafe Conditions

I. Identify the Hazards
• No provisions of lifelines
• Unstable Scaffolds
• Defective hand tools
• Accumulation of combustible materials
• Unsafe electrical connections

Systems to Control Unsafe Conditions
a. Eliminate
- Elimination of a specific hazard or hazardous work process is the most effective method of control. Maintaining good housekeeping in the workplace eliminates tripping and slipping hazards. Not using defective tools
b. Substitute
c. Isolate
- Machines should be designed with the correct guard on them to eliminate the danger of a worker getting caught in the machine while using it.
d. Engineering Control
- It include all control measures that remove or isolate a hazard from the workplace.
e. Admin Control
- Adopting standard operating procedures (SOPs) or safe work practices or providing appropriate training, instruction or information to prevent or limit worker’s exposure to hazards.
f. PPE
- to be used are determined by hazards identified in hazard analysis. PPE should only be used when all other hazard controls have been exhausted or more significant hazard controls are not feasible.

Occupational Safety
- is the identification and evaluation of unsafe acts/conditions and the application of control measures to prevent harm to people or minimize losses to properties.

Summary:
• Accident is a result of an unsafe act in the presence of one or several unsafe conditions
• Accident can be prevented by improving OSH knowledge, having right work attitude, doing best practices and applying available control measures against hazards in the workplace.

Thank you!