Preventing Accidents

1. International Diploma in
Occupational Safety and Health
Unit 1

2. 1A1 Preventing accidents
Key learning points:
• Definitions
• Accident causation
• Reasons for preventing accidents
• Accident prevention programmes
2

3. Definitions
Accident
An undesired circumstance which gives rise to injury, ill-health, damage to
property, plant, environment, production losses or increased liability
Incident
An event that includes all undesired circumstances and near misses that
could cause accidents
Near miss
Any form of incident that could have resulted in injury or loss but did not
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4. The Heinrich Theory (USA - 1931)
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Major Accident
Minor Injuries
Non - Injury
Accidents
1
29
300

5. The Bird Theory (USA – 1969)
5
10
Serious Injury
Non - Injury/Damage
Accidents
Minor Injuries
Property Damage
Accidents
1
30
600

6. Heinrich’s Accident Domino Theory
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Injury

7. Bird’s Modified Accident Domino Theory
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LOSS

8. Direct causes of accidents
Unsafe acts
Unsafe conditions
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9. Indirect causes of accidents
Reasons for direct causes:
• Lack of policy
• Lack of risk assessment
• Lack of procedures
• Lack of training
• Lack of supervision
• Lack of maintenance
Why?
• Lack of management control
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10. Multi-causal theories
Several causes happening in sequence or simultaneously,
e.g. combustion requires fuel, ignition and oxygen at the same time.
Single cause accidents generally more frequent but less serious.
Multi-causal accidents generally less frequent but more serious.
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11. Accident costs
Direct costs
Indirect costs
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12. Accident iceberg – the hidden costs of accidents
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13. Insured and uninsured costs
• Employer’s liability
• Fire and theft
• Public liability
• Insurance covers a fraction of the true costs
• Many accident costs left unnoticed and uninsured
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14. Insured and uninsured costs
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Investigation costs
Loss of goodwill
Loss of reputation
Replacement staff
Sick pay
Repairs
Product lost/damaged
Business interruption
Product liability
Employer’s liability
Public liability
Damage to buildings
Damage to vehicles
INSURED
DIRECT
INDIRECT
UNINSURED

15. Reasons for accident prevention programmes
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MORAL
ECONOMICLEGAL

16. Accident prevention programmes
Long term plan of action
• Aimed at controlling all accidental loss
Effective management
• Set your policy
• Organise your people
• Plan and set standards
• Measure your performance
• Audit and review
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17. 17
This completes the presentation for the
International Diploma in Occupational Safety and
Health.
We hope that you have found it useful.
Remember:
No-one should be injured or made ill at work.

18. International Diploma in
Occupational Safety and Health
Unit 1