Basic Work Accident

Causation and
Theories
 Session Objectives
• Understand the basic causes of workplace
accidents
• Define and differentiate terminologies such
as accident, unsafe act and unsafe
condition
• Identify and enumerate different situations
that constitute unsafe act and unsafe
condition
 ACCIDENT
An occurrence or event that is unexpected,
unforeseen, unplanned and unwanted that
could cause damage, injury or loss.
Types of Accidents
•Struck against rigid structure, sharp or rough
objects
•Struck by falling or flying objects, sliding or
moving parts
•Caught in, on, or between objects
•Fall on same level
•Fall on different levels
•Electrocution
•Fire
•Exposure to: noise, toxic chemicals, radiation,
temperature extremes, extreme pressures
 WORK SYSTEM
People

Environment Equipment

Materials
 ACCIDENT THEORY

People

Environment Equipment

Materials
 Heinrich’s Axiom of Industrial
Safety
▪ Injuries result from a completed series of
factors, one of which is the accident itself.
An accident can occur only as the result of
an unsafe act by a person and/ or a physical
or mechanical hazard
▪ Most accidents are the result of unsafe
behavior by people.
 Accident Causation
Domino Theory
 Heinrich’s Axiom of
Industrial Safety

▪ Unsafe act by a person or an unsafe

condition does not always immediately
result in an accident/injury.
▪ The severity of an accident is largely
fortuitous and the accident that caused it is
largely preventable.
Heinrich’s Triangle

1
Fatal

29 Minor

300 Near-Miss
 Heinrich’s Axiom of
Industrial Safety

➢The best accident prevention techniques are

analogous with the best quality and
productivity techniques.
➢Management should assume responsibility
for safety since it is in the best position to
get results.
 Heinrich’s Axiom of
Industrial Safety

➢The supervisor is the key person in the

prevention of industrial accident.

➢In addition to the direct costs of an

accident there are also hidden or indirect
costs.
Direct Cost

Ice Berg Indirect Cost

Theory
Direct Cost of Accidents
• Medical Expenses
• Equipment Damage
• Wasted Raw Materials
• Insurance Premiums
• Litigation Expenses
Indirect Cost of Accidents
1 Cost of Losses from Injured Worker
• lost productivity due to interruption on day of
injury
• lost reliability due to follow-up care
• lost efficiency after returning to work
2 Cost of Losses from Other Employees
• loss due to work stoppage out of curiosity
• loss when assisting injured worker
• lost productivity due to inspection
• lost efficiency out of sympathy to the injured
• Loss due to completion of added work
Indirect Cost of Accidents
3. Cost of Losses from Supervisors
• lost productivity when assisting the injured
• lost productivity due to accident investigation
• lost productivity in preparing reports
• lost productivity during inspection
4. Cost of Losses in Training Replacement
Worker
5. Cost of Losses during downtime of
equipment
Humane Aspects
• Sorrow due to loss
• Hardships and
inconveniences
• Physical
pain/discomfort
• Psychological
problems
Occupational Safety and Health

Occupational Safety and Health is

devoted to the recognition and control
of those factors in the workplace, which
may cause death or injury or disability
or sickness, or great discomfort and
inefficiency among workers.
 Focus of OSH

People
People

Environment
Equipment

Materials
Accident Situation
 Common Reasons
for Accidents
• Layman’s version:

• ‘Oras na niya’
• ‘Malas niya lang’
• ‘Tanga kasi’
• ‘Kasama sa trabaho’

NOT REAL CAUSES --- ONLY EXCUSES!

Primary Causes
of Accidents

• Unsafe Acts
• Unsafe Conditions
 Unsafe Act

The human action that

departs from a standard or
written job procedure or
common practice, safety
rules, regulations or
instructions.
Factors Contributing
to Unsafe Acts

• Improper Attitude
• Physical Limitations
• Lack of Knowledge or Skills
 Improper Attitudes
• Operating Equipment without Authority
• Disregard of SOP or instructions
• Removing Safety Devices
• Using Defective equipment
• Using PPEs improperly
• Horseplay
• Willful intent to injure
• Working while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs
 Physical Limitations
• Defective eyesight
• Muscular weakness due to fatigue
• Impaired hearing
• Short in Height
• Too tall in height
• Slow reactions
 Lack of Knowledge or Skill

• Failure to understand instruction

• Unaware of safe practices
• Unconvinced of safe practices
• Unskilled or unpracticed
 Unsafe Condition
The physical or chemical
property of a material,
machine or the
environment which
could result in injury to
a person, damage or
destruction to property
or other forms of losses.
 Hazards

Physical Hazards
Chemical Hazards
Biological Hazards
Ergonomic Hazards
WORKSHOP
Can accidents be
prevented?
 Unsafe Act vs.
Unsafe Condition

• 98% - preventable
• 88% - unsafe acts
• 10% - unsafe conditions
• 2% - non-preventable
 Systems to Control
Unsafe Acts/Unsafe Conditions
Administrative Control :
Exposure time limitations ,Safe work practices
Alarms and Warning signs, Training and Education

SOURCE PATH RECEIVER

Pre-contact:
Engineering Control :
Elimination/Minimization
Enclosure of the Hazard
Isolation of the Hazard
Redirection of Hazard
Point of contact:
Personal Protective
Equipment
Last line of defense
If you think TRAINING is expensive,
try IGNORANCE;
if you think SAFETY is costly,
try ACCIDENT!
SAFETY PHILOSOPHY @ WORK
“THE WORK AND PERSONAL HEALTH,
WELFARE AND WELL BEING OF
EMPLOYEES ARE EQUAL IN IMPORTANCE,
THAT EVERYONE MUST TAKE THE TIME
AND EXHAUST HIS BEST TO PERFORM HIS
WORK SAFELY. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF EVERYONE ON SITE TO APPLY EVERY
POSSIBLE MEASURE, TO ENSURE THAT
ALL LEAVE THE JOB IN THE SAME
CONDITION THEY ARRIVED.”
If,
Coincidence or Not?
ABC D EFGHI J K L M N O PQ R S T U V W X Y Z

Equals,
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Then,

K+ N +O +W+ L +E+D+G+E
11 + 14 + 15 + 23 + 12 + 5 + 4 + 7 + 5 = 96%

H+A+R +D+W+ O+ R +K
8 + 1 + 18 + 4 + 23 + 15 + 18 + 11 = 98%

Both are important, but the total falls just short of 100%

But,
A+T +T + I+T + U +D+E
1 + 20 + 20 + 9 + 20 + 21 + 4 + 5 = 100%

Safety really is about attitude. Make 100% Safe Behavior your

choice both ON and OFF the job.