SAFETY MANAGEMENT & SITE ESTABLISHMENT (D39MS) UNIT 2: ACCIDENTS
Lecture plan • Some examples and the real definition of accidents • The causes of accidents • Accident statistics • The recording and reporting of accidents and the strengths and limitation of the UK system • Who do accidents happen to? • Accident investigation • The real costs of accidents and significance for business of the ‘accident cost iceberg’ • Some short films
UK Construction figures In 2011/12 there were: significant reductions in the number and rate of injury over the last 20 years or more 49 fatal injuries 5 000 occupational cancer cases are estimated to arise each year estimated 74 000 total cases and 31 000 new cases of work-related ill health an estimated 1.7 million working days were lost due to work-related ill health and a further 0.6 million due to workplace injuries = 0.87 and 0.34 days per worker And these are only the ones reported (http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/industry/construction/) ? 000s MINOR INJURIES ???? DAMAGE ONLY ACCIDENTS
Fatal injuries – Construction Industry Statistics (Source: HSE, 2012) Source name: Work related injuries and ill health Available at (http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/industry/construction/construction.pdf)
Examples....... Case 1 Case 2
Examples....... • The lone worker taking photos • The overhead cables • The roof inspection • The demolition worker Full description appears in the notes on Vision.
Definition of Accidents The official definition of an accident given by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) is – “ any unplanned event that results in injury or ill health of people, or damage or loss to property, plant, materials or the environment or a loss of a business opportunity. ” There are other definitions, but this is the one we will use in this course.
Impressions • Most people think that accidents are things that just happen • It’s just bad luck • There is no real cause, no blame attached • Since nothing ‘caused’ it, then it cannot be prevented
But... Look again at the definition – it does not mention who’s fault it might have been – just that it was unplanned AND, accidents include: Physical accidents (Fatalities, Major injuries, Minor injuries, Non injury events/near misses) Illness and diseases Damage to materials and plant Environmental damage Business losses
Categories of accidents Accidents can be divided into 2 broad categories • Those which result from PHYSICAL CAUSES/HAZARDS • And those which result from HEALTH HAZARDS
1. Physical causes • Most common cause of all types of physical accidents is: SLIPS, TRIPS AND FALLS • Most of these happen on a smooth level surface, which is why tidiness and housekeeping are so important on a building site
1. Physical causes The most common cause of fatalities in construction is: FALLS FROM A HEIGHT These most often happen: from a roof through a roof light through a fragile roof from a ladder from scaffolding through an unguarded opening in a floor That is why edge protection, guard rails, and safe ladder use are so important
1. Physical causes • Other major physical causes of serious injuries and fatalities in construction are: Being struck by vehicles or run over Being struck by falling loads, equipment or materials Being crushed by collapsing structures, including excavations and scaffolding
1. Physical causes • So what do we concentrate our accident prevention efforts on? Check the web sites for publicity and see if this holds true
2. Health hazards Major illness and disease problems and their causes are :- Lung diseases caused by dusty atmospheres (especially asbestos) Muscle, joint and bone problems (especially back, shoulder and leg) due to heavy and repetitive lifting and moving Vibration white finger due to use of hand tools Skin cancer caused by exposure to strong sunlight Dermatitis (skin inflammation) due to contact with chemicals and cement
Vibration White Finger
Skin Cancer
Contact Dermatitis
Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that develops from the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs, the mesothelium . It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos
Sand blasting Sand blasting a stone wall
2. Health hazards 4 MAIN GROUPS :- • Chemical e.g. exposure to silica, lead, asbestos, solvents, mineral oils, carbon monoxide • Biological e.g. insects, fungi, bacteria, viruses • Physical e.g. noise, vibration, radiation, heat, cold, sunlight, electricity, high and low pressure, heavy and/or repetitive lifting • Psycho-social e.g. stress, overwork, monotony, shift patterns Detailed notes on examples of each type are on Vision.
EXAMPLE OF VISION NOTES Work Related Dermatitis The main work activities that can influence this hazard are: Workers whose skin is exposed to windy, wet and cold weather. This has the effect of removing the thin layer of lipids (oils) on the skin's surface, leaving the skin more susceptible to the penetration of irritants. Symptoms The skin will appear dry, red, sore and sometimes itchy, reducing the skin’s ability to withstand the effects of chemicals, dusts etc. Dermatitis can spread all over the body. Some substances can cause serious damage if they reach the internal organs Controls Complete risk assessments for at-risk work areas or operatives Take steps to eliminate or at least minimise the risks by avoiding the use of harmful substances or work operations in exposed conditions wherever possible Inform supervisors and workers about any substances they work with that can cause dermatitis
Accident statistics • Almost all Governments in industrialized countries gather statistics on different categories of accidents to give an indication of how their industries are performing, and to give an indication of whether closer controls are needed in certain areas • Such statistics are often used to justify new legal controls for industries or activities which show an unacceptably high accident rate
Accident statistics • It is important to remember that no reporting system is perfect and there will always be some that are not reported. So the official figures are always under-reporting the real situation. Or to put it another way, in the real workplace it is always more dangerous than the figures suggest.
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995
RIDDOR • Laws vary between countries, but in the UK the gathering of accident data is controlled by a law called The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) • They tell industry what accidents to report, how to report them, and give time limits for sending reports
What’s the point of RIDDOR? • HSE need to know about the more serious accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences at work so they can perform their statutory role. • They can analyse where and how risks arise and then investigate/enforce .
What needs to be reported? • Death or injuries: – employee or a self-employed person working on your premises is killed or a member of public killed; or – suffers a major injury (including violence); or – Over-seven-day injuries (employee/self-employed off work, or incapacitated for normal work for more than 7 consecutive days) • Occupational diseases: – doctor notifies you of reportable work-related disease; • Dangerous occurrences: – categories of near-misses • Gas incidents
RIDDOR Covers: • Employers • self-employed • people in control of work premises • employees • trainees • other people injured on premises
RIDDOR Major injuries include: • fracture of skull, spine, pelvis, arm, leg, wrist, ankle • Any amputation through any bone • loss of sight (temporary or permanent
RIDDOR Major injuries (continued): • certain eye injuries • electric shock requiring attention • unconsciousness through lack of oxygen • acute illness due to exposure to certain materials requiring hospitalisation for more than 24 hours
RIDDOR Reportable occurrences: • structural collapses • fires and explosions • failure of breathing apparatus while in use • scaffold collapse • contact with or arcing of overhead cables
Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979 Every accident involving personal injury to an employee must be entered in the accident book by: • the employee or • someone acting on behalf of the employee The accident book must be kept accessible. An employer must investigate all accidents reported
Reporting to enforcing authorities You can report accidents and occurrences by: • Online (all incidents) • Telephone (for fatal and major injuries only. - call the Incident Contact Centre on 0845 300 9923 - opening hours Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 5 pm ) • Telephone ( contact duty officer on 0151 922 9235 for r eporting out of hours only in work-related death; a serious incident with multiple casualties; or an incident which has caused major disruption)
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