Principles of Accident Prevention

Health and safety at work

There are three aspects to the prevention of accidents at work.

1. The creation of a safe place of work.

2. The development and operation of safe working practices.

3. Ensuring the personal safety of all employees.

A systematic approach should be adopted which takes account of the risk assessment requirements of
relevant legislation, in particular Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999 (MHSWR). Adequate management control should be achieved by putting into practice
the required actions identified in any risk assessments undertaken
 Safe place of work

A safe place to work is a prime requirement of the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 (HSWA).

The approach to creating a safe place of work requires consideration of:

• separation of the worker from the hazard

• containment of the hazard

• removal of the hazard, eg by exhaust ventilation for appropriate disposal.

In general, the development and application of the approach to creating a safe place of work is based
upon sound engineering principles. This should be the initial approach to be adopted. Engineering
strategies can remove much, if not all, of the vagaries of human behaviour as they can ensure only
certain actions or conditions are met, eg by provision of interlock switching to prevent access to moving
parts of machinery. Good design of the workplace can make it easier for individuals choices and actions..

Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 apply to all workplaces except ships,
building and construction sites.

The creation and maintenance of a safe place of work must be achieved by ensuring:

• workplace structures and buildings are safe at all times

• buildings are stable and suitable for the tasks to be carried out

• environmental conditions, eg heating, lighting and ventilation, provide for the comfort and well-being
of employees and are suitable for the nature of work being done

• the workplace is free of ha: Hi, let us know if yo the use, storage, transport materials, substances .

• floors, walkways and acces Write a message... (including roads) do not pose a hazard and space should
be adequate to all..

Organisational factors
The general principles of prevention need to be applied in a systematic and cohesive manner. This will
depend on establishing both appropriate management systems and a culture which will support a high
level of safety performance. The health and safety culture of the organisation is an important factor
which can help to influence the attitudes and actions of those working in the organisation.

Management systems

The identification of hazards and associated risks should form the basis of developing the approach to
creating a safe place of work, safe practices and ensuring personal safety. In very general terms, the
focus should be on the development of management systems which will ensure that the strategies
adopted to prevent accidents can actually work. It is essential that the approach is systematic, follows
the principles generally laid out in HSG65 Managing for Health and Safety, and can be demonstrated to
achieve the requirements of the general duties in Regulation 5 of MHSWR. This relates to the
requirement to make arrangements for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and
review of preventive and protective measures.

Culture
In very basic terms, culture is about shared attributes, eg values, beliefs and norms which define the way
an organisation, company or firm goes about its business. In addition to creating a systematic approach
to the management of health and safety, the culture of an organisation determines to some extent the
level of safety performance achieved.

If the company culture is one where safety is valued as much as production, then safety performance is
likely to be of a higher standard because it is more likely that those working in the organisation behave
positively towards health and safety. If the workforce is involved in making decisions about safety issues
then this will also have a positive impact on safety performance.

Safe Working Practices

Health and safety at work

Safe working practices take account of the interaction between the:

• people involved in the work

• nature of the tasks and activities to be

undertaken

⚫ place where the work is done (including the environment)

• materials and substances involved.

Creating safe working practices

This involves designing the method of working to ensure safety, taking into account the various
interactions between people, tasks, workplace and substances.

Working practices should be arranged and designed to limit and control exposure to risks so that
accidents are prevented. In some circumstances it is not possible to rely entirely on engineered safe
place strategies. It then becomes necessary to examine the work processes in detail and to develop
procedures and modes of working that can ensure accident prevention. Often these will be achieved in
association with engineered solutions.

Developing safe practices

This will take account of normal operating conditions and any foreseeable emergencies or unusual
circumstances and, where appropriate, take account of the following.

• The degree of risk - the greater the risks the more thorough design of the practice should be and the
more rigorous the attention given to determining the consequences of various interactions.

• The nature of physical hazards arising from heat, chemicals, radiation, etc. This provides an
opportunity to test the suitability of engineered protection and possible elimination or substitution of
the hazards.
 Personal Safety

Health and safety at work

It is important that workers understand:

• the hazards and risks inherent in their work activities

• the control measures in place

• how to undertake the tasks required of them in a safe manner.