This document discusses causation theories for analyzing accidents, including the domino theory and multiple causation theory. The domino theory proposes that accidents result from a chain of sequential causes, while multiple causation theory recognizes that accidents often have multiple interconnected causes occurring simultaneously. The document also covers topics like unsafe acts versus unsafe conditions, calculating accident rates, accident investigation and reporting procedures, and using investigation records to identify accident prevention strategies.

1. Loss
Causation
And
Analysis
PRESENTERS: ADAM BAHADUR
ELIZABETH ROSS
JAGESH SOOKRAM
LYSTRA NEDD

2. Causation Theories
 Single Cause Domino Theory
 Multiple Causation

3. Domino Theory
The Domino Theory is widely
attributed to Heinrich(1959,
Ridely and Channing,1999)
and is based on the
chronological order of the
causes of an accident.

4. Single Cause Domino Theory
 Heinrich’s Theory
 Each factor is the fault of the factor that immediately
precedes it.
 A preventable injury is the natural culmination of a
series of events or circumstances, which occur in a
fixed logical order.

5. The five stage are: Fig 1
Ancestry and social environment,
leading to
Fault of the person, constituting the
proximate reason for
An unsafe act or condition, which
results in
The injury, damage loss or
combination of these
outcomes.
The accident ,which
leads to

6. Heinrich Domino theory
illustrated
ancestry
and
social
environment
A
B
unsafe
act
or
condition
C
the
accident
D
loss
E
fault
of
the
person

7. Single Cause Domino Theory
 If one of the dominoes is removed then he chain of
events will be halted, and the accident will not happen
 Element 3 (unsafe act or mechanical or physical
hazard) is probably the easiest factor to remove.

8. Accidents Causes
 Immediate or primary causes of accidents
are often grouped into unsafe acts and
unsafe conditions.

9.  Working without authority
 Failure to warn others of danger
 leaving equipment in dangerous condition
 Using equipment in wrong speed
 Disconnected safety devices e.g. guards ,

10. Unsafe Acts Cont…...
• Using defective equipment
• Using equipment in the wrong way
• Failure to use or wear PPE
• Bad loading of vehicles
• Failure to lift loads correctly

11. Unsafe conditions can include:-
 inadequate or missing guards / moving
machines parts
 defective tool or equipment
 inadequate fire warning systems

12. Unsafe Conditions
• fire hazards
• hazardous atmospheric conditions
• excessive noise
• exposure to radiation
• inadequate illumination or ventilation

13. Multi- Causality Theory
 The multi- causality approach is based on
the principle that accidents are the result of
many causes.
 This is best illustrated by figure 2 (blinder
et al,1999) which shows the causal tree
analysis of an accident in a timber factory.

14. Fig 2

15. Multiple Causation
 May be more than one cause, not only in sequence,
but occurring at the same time
 In accident investigation all causes must be identified
 Usually simple accidents have a single cause
 Major disasters normally have multiple causes.

16. Multiple Causation
 This approach allows for the analysis and identification
of active failures i.e. direct causes and latent or hidden
causes which can relate to management, designers
etc., that is the underlying causes.
 Awareness of such issues is crucial in the process of
risk assessment, because in a proactive approach it is
necessary to identify potential risk, not just the
obvious ones.

17. Unsafe Acts
 Unsafe acts can be active or passive:
 Active Unsafe Acts: - Worker deliberately removes
machine guard
 Passive Unsafe Acts: - More difficult to deal with
- By pursuing an active safety policy, it is possible to
achieve a reduction in bad habits and hence accidents.

18. The categories of causes that need to
be considered are:
 People
 Equipment
 Materials
 Environment

19. Unsafe Acts/Conditions
 The diagram shows how unsafe acts & conditions may
interact to produce an accident.
 Accident potential is increased when unsafe acts &
conditions occur simultaneously.
 This is not to say that an act or condition alone could
not result in an accident.

20. Unsafe
Acts
Unsafe
Conditions

21. Calculating accident
incidence rate
 Incident rate;-( helpful where the number of work
hours is either low or not available)
 Number of injuries x 1,000
Average number employed during the period
OR
 Number of fatal or major injuries x
100,000
Number at the risk of an industry sector

22. Fatal Accidents/100,000 Employees in the
UK
The Health and Safety Executive publishes data on the fatal accident rate per 100 000
employed. The fatal accident rate for the period 1996/97 – 2004/05 is shown in figure 5.3.

23.  Frequency rate;- Number of injuries x
100,000
Total number of hours
work
 Severity rate;- Total number of days lost x
1000
Total number of hours
worked

24. Accident Reporting
 Information should be kept for all injuries, and
preferably for near misses
 The safety practitioner needs to design a suitable form
to ensure that he gets the information that he needs
for investigations.

25. Internal reporting
 Internal reporting is a vital component of a
well-run buversioning overlap and manual
processes. These roadblocks often result in
inaccuracy, inefficiency and a lot of
frustration.
 What makes this process more challenging is
the frequency with which internal reporting
occurs; its continuous nature makes it difficult
for organizations to streamline internal
reporting methodssiness, but in most
organizations, it’s fraught with challenges.

26. Recording & Reporting
Accidents
 Recording and reporting accidents and ill health at
work is a legal requirement under .The reporting
of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences
regulation 2013 (RIDDOR)
 RIDDOR places a legal duty on:
 employers
 self – employed people
 people in control of premises

27. Accident Investigation
Records
 Format:
 Name and personal details of victim
 Date, day and time of accident
 Location of accident
 Job being done at the time
 Nature of injure or damage
 What inflicted the injury or damage
 Who had control of the cause of the injury or damage
 What actually happened
 Immediate remedial action taken
 Recommendations to prevent recurrence

28. Use of Investigation Records
 Accident records should not only be used to count
accidents.
 Detailed and thorough study of the records as part of
the normal ongoing accident prevention programme.

29. Use of Investigation Records
 Useful information from reports:
 Relative importance of the various injury&
damage sources
 Conditions, processes, machines and activities
which cause the injuries/damages
 The extent of repetition of each type of injury or
accident in each operation
 Accident repeaters, i.e. those workers who tend to
be repeatedly injured or are involved in more
accidents
 How to prevent similar accidents in future

30. Accident Investigation
 Could be carried out by
 Safety Practitioner
 Management or Supervisor
 Safety Representative
 Inspector

31. Accident Investigation
 Initial Actions –
 Promptness – as soon as possible after the event
 Question the victim
 Witnesses & Conditions

32. Types of Witnesses
 Primary Witness
 Secondary Witness
 Tertiary Witness

33. Should all accidents be
investigated
?

34. Reporting of Accidents &
Investigation
 Inform the Chief Inspector fort with
 Must fill out the prescribe form “3”
 Written report submitted within 48 hours. (OSH)
 Prepare a general Resister keep for 5 years on site.

35. End of Presentation!
Thank You.