2. There is a consensus amongst many safety
specialists that there are four distinct phases to
what is referred to as an accident.
Contributing factors
The Principle cause(s)
The accident or incident
The consequences of the accident
3. The Four Main Areas
Contributing Principle
factors Cause
Main Distinctions
Consequences
The Accident of the Accident
4. Poor training, supervision or instruction
Safety rules not enforced
Poor planning
Poor maintenance systems
Safety devices not provided
The Environment
Ergonomics
5. Lack of safety awareness
Aptitude and ability
Poor attitude towards safety
Tiredness, slow mental reaction
Inattention
Emotional state
Physical make up
Illness
Alcohol / drugs
7. Protective equipment or guard not used
Manual handling (failure to allow for sharp or
slippery objects and pinch points, Poor lifting
techniques, loose grip, etc.)
Wrong equipment being used.
Poorly maintained tools and equipment
Poor housekeeping (slips, trips & falls)
Horseplay
8. Broken safety devices
No safety devices
Inappropriate use of Hazardous substances
Improper dress or apparel for the job
Poor illumination /environment
9. Fall
Slip
Trip
Strike against
Caught in or between
Erupt or explode
Burn
Ejection
11. Annoyance
Machinery, down time
Reduced moral
Man hours lost
Minor injuries
Disabling injuries
Fatality
Costs – Legal, Productivity, Medical aid,
Insurance premiums, Compensation,
Investigation times, Defence times……..Hassel
Prison, Fines & loss of reputation
12. Fatalities
Loss of Hand, Foot, Thumb or Eye
Broken Arm or Leg, Hip
Fractured Skull
Electrocution
Poisoning
Reportable / Proscribed diseases
Collapse of Scaffolding
Overturning of a crane/tower, failure of load
bearing parts
Collapse of a trench
13. A hazard is anything that can cause harm, A Risk is the
likelihood high or low of that harm being realised.
It is all too easy to identify the principal and contributing
causes of an accident after it has occurred. The difficult part
comes when you have to predict when an accident is likely
to happen and what would be the probable outcome. When
an accident does occur, it is an indication that someone or
something along the line has gone wrong and unsafe
conditions have been created. Managers, supervisor, Union
Reps and Employees will need to have a working
knowledge of the fundamental steps that need to be taken
to ensure effective control of the contributing causes of
accidents in order to reduce the risks to as low as is
reasonably practicable.