Incident Prevention

Learning Objectives

To define what is incident To explain the causes of incident & role of management control To explain 3 theory on accident causation To list the cost involved in an incident

Scope

Principles of loss prevention

Causes of incidents

Incidents and productivity

Approach to loss prevention

1. Incident prevention is good management

2. Management and workers must fully cooperate

3. Top management must lead

4. There must be an OSH policy

5. Must have organisation and resources to implement the OSH policy

6. Best available information and technology must be applied

Principles of Incident Prevention

What Is An Incident?

An incident is:An unexpected, unplanned event in a

sequence of eventsThat occurs through a combination of causes Which result in:

Physical harm (injury, ill-health or disease) to an individual,

Damage to property, A near-miss, Any combination of these effects.

Why Prevent Incidents?

Legal

Human Rights

Business

Causes Of IncidentsCauses Of Incidents

Types of Incidents

Cause immediate injury or damage to equipment or property:A forklift dropping a loadSomeone falling off a ladder

That occur over an extended period:Hearing loss Illness resulting from exposure to chemicals

Early Theory Of Accidents (Heinrich (1930's))

Ancestry/social

environment

Fault of a person

Unsafe act/condition

Accident

Injury

Heinrich’s Five Stage Sequence

Ancestry/social

environment

Fault of a person

Unsafe act/condition

Accident

Injury

Accident Causation Model (1974)

Poor Management Safety Policy &Decisions

Personal FactorsEnvironmental Factors

Unplanned Incidence

The Three Basic Causes of Accidents

UnsafeCondition

Unsafe Act

Direct Causes

Indirect causes

Three Basic Causes Of Accident

ACCIDENTPersonal Injury,

Property Damage

Basic Causes

Lack of Management Control

Management responsible for:Selection of workers Machinery and equipmentSystem of work Information and training Supervision, etc

The accident prone worker is a false

approach. It is like blaming the victim instead of the perpetrator.

Multiple Cause Of Accidents

Compatible with Loss Causation Theory.

Cause A(Poor lighting)

Cause B (Not look where going)

Cause C(Wood in walkway)

Accident(Trip)

Fall From a Defective Ladder

Why was the defective ladder not found during normal inspection?

Why did the supervisor allow its use? Didn't the injured employee know it should not

be used?Was the employee properly trained?

Was the employee reminded not to use the ladder?

Did the superior examine the job first?

Trip Although Warned in Dark Walkway

Was there a necessity for that person to walk in that area or was there a safer route.

If the person was not in a hurry would they have been more aware of their surroundings and avoided the wood.

If the area was better lit would the person have avoided the wood.

Could the wood have been removed.

The Accident Pyramid

TYE/PEARSON/BIRD 1969-1975400400 Near misses

8080 Property

5050 First aid

33 Lost days

11 Fatal / Serious injury

Accepted Accident Theory

Multiple Causation TheoryA single unsafe act or condition may or

may not cause an accident but both are caused by lack of management control.

Bird Loss Causation Model In line with Schewhart(1930’s) theory of

quality control. Heinrich’s theory is weak and negative

Blaming victim and lack system thinking, continual improvements, upstream control and worker participation.

Productivity Aspect Of OSH

Direct Vs. Indirect Incident Cost Iceberg

It is estimated that for every $1 in direct incident costs, there are anywhere from $4 to $11 in indirect or “hidden” costs.

Indirect

Costs

Direct

Costs

The Hidden Costs

1. Product and material damage

2. Plant and building damage

3. Tool and equipment damage

4. Expenditure on emergency

5. Fines

6. Legal costs

7. Investigation time8. Supervisors time

diverted 9. Clerical Effort10. Overtime working11. Temporary labour 12. Loss of expertise /

experience supplies 13. Clearing site14. Production delays

Insured Costs -- covering injury, ill health, damage.Hidden Uninsured – 8-36 times as much as insured costs

Incident Prevention Costs

DESIGN COSTS (e.g to install machine guards)

OPERATIONAL COSTS (training costs, PPE, etc.)

SAFE GUARDING THE FUTURE COSTS (health surveillance, audits etc)

Cost- Benefit Analysis Of Control Measures

Compare specific incident costs with cost of specific improvement being suggested.

Du Pont Ten Principles of Safety Management

All injuries and occupational illnesses are preventable.

Management is directly responsible for doing this.

Safety is a condition of employment. Training is required. Safety audits and inspections must be carried

out.

Du Pont Ten Principles of Safety Management

Deficiencies must be corrected promptly. All unsafe practices, incidents and injury

accidents will be investigated. Safety away from work is as important as safety

at work Incident prevention is cost‑effective; the

highest cost is human suffering. Employees must be actively involved.

Summary

Incident in the workplace is largely caused by lack of management control

“If you think safety is expensive, try accidents”

Implement an appropriate company policy Control OSH risk Put a management system in place Promote Occupational Safety and Health

THANK YOU