Lecture #1 SummaryLecture #1 Summary Construction industry has one of the highest accident Construction industry has one of the highest accident

rates. Very little data on worker health impacts.rates. Very little data on worker health impacts.

Difference between Difference between following the lawfollowing the law and making it a and making it a work culturework culture

Safety & Health have been secondary project Safety & Health have been secondary project objectives but is gaining importance today.objectives but is gaining importance today.

Practices vary widely between companies in the Practices vary widely between companies in the same country and across countries same country and across countries

What is an Accident ?What is an Accident ?

An unplanned event ? (which may or may An unplanned event ? (which may or may not result in damage – injury)not result in damage – injury)

• Is a near-miss an accident ?

• Can we “plan” to avoid an “unplanned” event ?

300

29

NO DAMAGE OR NO INJURY

CASES

MAJOR ACCIDENT

MINOR ACCIDENTS

Accident Theories – Accident Theories –

(why do accidents occur & (why do accidents occur & how can they be prevented)how can they be prevented)

Accident PronenessAccident PronenessGoals-Freedom AlertnessGoals-Freedom Alertness

Adjustment-StressAdjustment-StressDistractions TheoryDistractions Theory

Chain of EventsChain of Events

Are some people more accident prone ?Are some people more accident prone ?

Accident Proneness TheoryAccident Proneness Theory

Accident proneness “ A personal idiosyncrasy predisposing the individual who possess it in a marked degree to a relatively high accident rate” [Farmer & Chambers 1929]

“The innate propensity for accidents”

Traits for propensityFatalisticExtrovertedAggressive

Accident Proneness TheoryAccident Proneness Theory

Perception and willingness to take risks - Risk Perception and willingness to take risks - Risk PronenessProneness

Age .vs. Risk PronenessAge .vs. Risk Proneness

Situation .vs. Risk PronenessSituation .vs. Risk Proneness

Only few hypotheses have been validated statisticallyOnly few hypotheses have been validated statistically

How can it be applied to reduce accidents ?How can it be applied to reduce accidents ?

Goal Freedom Alertness Goal Freedom Alertness by Kerrby Kerr

Psychologically rewarding environment Psychologically rewarding environment leads to safe work performanceleads to safe work performance

Well defined goal by Management through worker Well defined goal by Management through worker participationparticipation

Freedom to pursue the goalFreedom to pursue the goal

Results in Alertness to achieve the goalResults in Alertness to achieve the goal

How can it be applied to reduce accidents ?How can it be applied to reduce accidents ?

Adjustment-Stress TheoryAdjustment-Stress TheoryKerrKerr

Diversion/Stress compromises safe Diversion/Stress compromises safe performanceperformance

Complement to earlier 2 theories – GFAComplement to earlier 2 theories – GFA

Diversion –External or InternalDiversion –External or Internal

Adjustment-Stress TheoryAdjustment-Stress Theory Internal StressInternal Stress

Fatigue, Alcohol, AnxietyFatigue, Alcohol, Anxiety

External StressExternal Stress Noise, Illumination, TemperatureNoise, Illumination, Temperature

Generated on Job or OutsideGenerated on Job or Outside

Management Focus to reduce job stress – Management Focus to reduce job stress – cost, time restrictionscost, time restrictions Unsafe environmentUnsafe environment Poor interpersonal relationshipsPoor interpersonal relationships

Mgmt sensitivity to outside job stressesMgmt sensitivity to outside job stresses

Proportion of Accidents ExplainedProportion of Accidents Explained

Goal Freedom Alert35%Accd prone

10%

Adjust Stress55%

Goal Freedom Alert

Accd prone

Adjust Stress

Distractions Theory-InternalDistractions Theory-InternalHinzeHinze

Accident causation theory applied to a Accident causation theory applied to a situation where there is a recognized situation where there is a recognized hazard.hazard.

Focus onFocus on Task (High task achievement)Task (High task achievement) Distraction (Low task achievement)Distraction (Low task achievement)

Are productivity and safety in conflict ?Are productivity and safety in conflict ?

Distractions Theory-Internal

Pro

babi

l ity

of

Inju

ry

Low

High

Low High

Serious H

azard Low Focus

High Focus

Task Achievement

Moderate Hazard

Minor Hazard

Distraction Due to work hazard

Pro

babi

l ity

of

Inju

ry

Low

High

Low High

Standing on stool Low

Focus

High Focus

Task Achievement

Standing on Ladder

Scaffolding

Distractions Theory-Internal

Example- Painter standing on a supportDistraction from the activity

Pro

babi

l ity

of

Inju

ry

Low

High

Low High

Low Focus

High Focus

Task Achievement

Distractions Theory-External(Mental Distractions)

Example- Preoccupation with issues not related to workExternal Distraction Source!! (positive or negative)

Serious DistractionTrivial Distraction

HOW CAN MANAGEMENT APPLY DISTRACTIONS THEORY ?

Chain-of-Events TheoryChain-of-Events Theory

• Accidents are a result of a series of events

• If any event in this series or chain had not occurred the accident might be averted

• Last event is usually caused by the worker - so the worker is usually blamed

• Chain of events is not strictly a theory but a means to prevent/analyze accidents.

Chain-of-Events Theory

Situation:

* Worker falls of 3rd story & is seriously injured * Not wearing safety belt * No rails around perimeter * Worker assumed safety belt is not available * Others were not wearing safety belts * Long form to fill to get belt from store

Who is responsible ?

How could the chain be broken ?

Chain-of-Events Theory

• Basically MANAGEMENT

• Chain of event analysis shows that in most accidents management can somehow break the chain

* Enforce Procedures* Inadequate Facilities* Poor Design or Selection* Poor Attitude* Inadequate Training

* Poor maintenance* Inadequate Planning & Layout* Failure to Recognize hazard* Lack of Comprehension* Inadequate Coordination

UNSAFE ACTS UNSAFE CONDITION

WORKER

PROJECT ORG

INJURY

MANAGEMENT

Summary- Accident TheoriesSummary- Accident Theories

Accident PronenessAccident Proneness

Goals-Freedom AlertnessGoals-Freedom Alertness

Adjustment-StressAdjustment-Stress

Distractions TheoryDistractions Theory

Chain of EventsChain of Events