Incident Prevention

Instructor Guide

Time
Preparation for this training

Content Before presenting this training, the supervisor and the instructor should read and discuss the lesson and determine which aspects of the lesson should be stressed to meet the needs of their group. This lesson can be taught in three 15-minute parts or as one 45-minute lesson. If you teach the lesson in three parts, briefly review the previous sections with the participants at the beginning of part 2 and part 3. Refer to the Safety and Health Inspection checklist in the Safety, Health and Environmental Manual as an example of a prepared checklist. Check your department for any specific Safety and Health Facility Inspection checklists. Prepare all charts, visuals, and participant materials required for each lesson before meeting with the participants.

Attachments
Participant Handout
Self-Paced Handout

PowerPoint Presentation

Part 1 Causes of Incidents

15 minutes

EXPLAIN: Every few seconds a worker is injured on the job in the United States, and every day 15 workers lose their lives on the job. You can avoid becoming a statistic by paying attention and staying alert to possible hazards while you work. With proper training and awareness, you can help prevent incidents. There are two causes of incidents in the workplace: Unsafe acts Unsafe conditions Approximately 90 percent of all incidents are caused by unsafe acts. LIST: (Give each person a Participants Handout and ask them to write down some examples of unsafe acts. While participants are writing their responses, create two columns on a whiteboard or overhead transparency. At the top of the first column write Unsafe Acts. After participants have completed their list, have them share examples of unsafe acts and write these on the board in the first column. Do not erase these responses.) EXPLAIN: Unsafe acts may be committed for a variety of reasons: Lack of appreciation for risks Lack of knowledge of proper safety procedures Carelessness Complacency or indifference to safety rules Fatigue Working too fast

Incident Prevention

Instructors Guide

EXPLAIN: Unsafe conditions are another major cause of incidents. Safety conditions must be monitored constantly because conditions are changing from moment to moment. Something that was safe yesterday may be unsafe today. It is the responsibility of each employee to help management eliminate unsafe conditions by reporting or correcting them when possible. LIST: (Ask participants to write down on their Participants Handout some examples of unsafe conditions. After participants have completed their list, have them share examples of unsafe conditions. Label the second column on the whiteboard or overhead transparency Unsafe Conditions, and record participants responses in this column.) ASK: What hazards do we need to be most concerned about in our group? COLLECT: (If this training is being taught in three separate sessions, have the employees put their name at the top of their Participants Handout and collect them from employees. The handouts will be used again in part 3.

Part 2 Hazard Identification and Prevention

REVIEW part 1 if part 2 is being taught separately. Remind participants that incidents are caused by unsafe acts and unsafe conditions and it is the responsibility of the employee to help management eliminate unsafe acts and conditions by reporting any hazards and correcting them when possible. EXPLAIN: Identifying and minimizing hazards is your defense against accidents. To help identify and eliminate hazards: Inspect your work area every day before you begin working. Frequently examine all substances, materials, and equipment that you use in your job to make sure everything is safe. Look for possible hazards throughout the workday.

15 minutes

SHOW AND DISCUSS: (If you have prepared an inspection checklist, review this with employees now.) DISCUSS with employees what hazards they may correct themselves and what hazards should be reported to management for handling. Using a whiteboard or flipchart, write some of the key points of the discussion. TELL employees who they should contact to report a hazard.

Page 2 of 3 2013 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. English approval: 3/13.

Incident Prevention

Instructors Guide
EXPLAIN: The following strategies can help to identify and correct hazards that cause incidents, including unsafe acts and unsafe conditions. 1. Think ahead. Throughout the day think about: What youll be working with. What youll be doing. Where youll be walking. What could go wrong. 2. Stay alert. Avoid becoming complacent or taking shortcuts, no matter how many times youve done the job or how many years of experience you have. 3. Ask questions. If youre not sure what to do or if youre dealing with a new substance or procedure, dont hesitate to ask for clarification. 4. Take action. Well-trained, knowledgeable employees take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of their co-workers.

Part 3 Incident Prevention Review

REVIEW: (If part 3 is being taught separately, quickly review the two causes of incidents in the workplaceunsafe acts and unsafe conditions. Remind participants that identifying and minimizing hazards is their best defense against incidents. Distribute the partially completed Participants Handouts from part 1. COMPLETE: (Have participants complete the Incident Prevention Quiz on the Participants Handout.) REVIEW the quiz with participants, and tell them the correct answers. Answers are listed below.

15 minutes

Quiz Answers

1. False: 90 percent of all incidents are caused by unsafe acts; 2. True; 3. False: ask questions if youre not sure what to do or if youre dealing with a new substance or procedure; 4. False: avoid becoming complacent or taking shortcuts, no matter how many times youve done the job; 5. True; 6. False; 7. False: it is the responsibility of each employee to help management eliminate unsafe conditions and acts by reporting or correcting them when possible; 8. True; 9. False: proper training and awareness can prevent incidents.

Summary

TELL participants to refer to their handout and to answer the questions, What unsafe actions do I need to correct? and What unsafe conditions need to be corrected in my area?

Page 3 of 3 2013 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. English approval: 3/13.