Accident Work :: Prevent a Work Accident

Accidents at Work

2011-04-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

Accidents at Work - a lack of security in enterprises

An accident at work, in most cases, occurs through the fault of companies that do not meet safety standards and do not act preemptively. Work accidents are a reality, and this year alone hundreds of people have died as a result.

The consequences of these deaths are so heavy for the family and the company, that any responsible entrepreneur would be better focusing on security. The price is too high for either the worker or to the company, which is obliged to pay compensation to the worker's family and see his reputation tarnished by unnecessary deaths.

Taking into account the number of deaths that occurred in recent years, it is necessary to ensure that employers comply with the law and choose to invest in security measures. The number of work accidents could be reduced if companies:

- Identified potential risk situations;

- Invested in security measures;

- Adopted prevention programs;

- Listened to awareness campaigns;

Still, in many European small and medium enterprises, it may be harder to identify risk situations and implement security measures, as these firms often lack the resources to do so.

To discourage companies from breaking the rules of safety, in the workplace, there are several measures that can be applied:

- Suspensions of work if there are serious security flaws;

- Notices for taking measures to improve security conditions;

- The application of sanctions;

- A high cost of accidents, which exceeds the premium paid by the insurance company, both in kind and in cash;

- Loss of services;

- Loss of reputation;

- Possible court proceedings;

- Delays in meeting commitments;

- Drop in productivity;

- Lack of motivation of workers;

- Employee absenteeism;

A good path to follow is aggravating the penalties for industrial accidents through the fault of the employer, charging him with the responsibility of covering property damage and personal injuries in relation to the employee and their families.

That's my opinion, at least.

Work Accident Claim

2011-03-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

Recovering some data that is still relevant.

Construction is still the sector responsible for most victims of fatal accidents. Let's take an example from the European Union: In Portugal, last year, the construction sector accounted for more than half of fatal accidents at work. Of the 280 accidents, 156 occurred in the construction industry.

The Labour Inspection points out, concerning the causes for this increase in accidents in 2001, that "many high-risk projects, especially bridges and overpasses, resort to the use of inadequate and / or in poor condition equipments, and projects are developed without the necessary quality using, in some cases, inadequate building techniques".

Already in 2002, there were 124 fatalities in industrial accidents, of which 58 occured in construction.

The major causes of death in this sector are:

- crushing;

- falls from height;

- burial;

But the high level of presented claims is not limited to construction. The branches of industry and transport are also causing many fatalities.

Now, you may be thinking, that's in Portugal. Well, it appears that despite the high rate of occupational accidents, Portugal is in the European average, with a "tax claims of around 93 injured workers for every hundred thousand". According to the study "The Social situation in the European Union 2002", the European average is of 90 accidents per hundred thousand workers.

Firms should not forget those who die from accidents at work, and those who do not. Even the ones who escape are often partially or totally disabled for life in the wake of accidents at work.

Work Accident Prevention is cool

2011-01-17T11:53:00.000-08:00

Hey there! How has your company been doing, regarding work accident prevention? The people here at Accidentless.com have been promoting a few work accident prevention activities, which in turn has prompted some away-from-keyboard time.

But fear not! Soon there will be new advices, tips, reviews and law tidbits. Work accidents are an ever-present menace to workers everywhere.

A work accident is a serious matter, yet we try to approach it lightly, in order to reach a larger amount of people. So, stay with us and explore: keep reading, and seeing funny safety pictures of what not to do.

Avoid a work accident, build a safer environment today for you and your colleagues!

Updates & awareness through humour

2010-12-01T17:47:00.000-08:00

In the Humour blogroll, a new entry, called (suggestively) "Safe is Fun". As stated by it, it's meant to, through humour, direct attention towards the violation of safety rules around the world, highlighting recklessness. It resorts to humourous images or references gathered from various online sources, and is thus meant to create work accident awareness through humour.

I'd say, if it produces results in even one person then it is already a positive thing.

Haiti

2010-01-22T19:33:00.000-08:00

Our minds, hearts, prayers and thoughts go out to the people of Haiti, and also to those who are devoting their efforts to help them as best they can. Please be safe while saving others.

Dealing with serious injury

2009-11-24T15:40:00.000-08:00

Personal injuries occur, on the most diverse work settings. As discussed in previous posts, the number and seriousness of work accidents can sucessfully be decreased by proactive prevention, but they still do occur sometimes. And when any kind of personal injury takes place, it is always a big deal, however light it may be: personal injury can mean a number of changes in the affected person's life, in some cases only temporary (like in the case of a broken finger), in others permanent (like chronic pain).

All of this is made worse, however, when serious injury occurs: massive life changes are usually required, often accompanied by a significant loss of quality of life. It usually also implies a great deal of adaptation from loved ones, as well. When a worker is seriously injured, there isn't only one victim, a variable number of significant others is also affected.

On this point, while browsing the Internet for information on that subject I came across a site (Serious Injury Law) that provides a set of free guides (a small online form needs to be completed before the download) on how to deal with a variety of elements related to such occurances. They can be found at these links: serious injury guides and spinal injury guides. I had a chance to read some, finding their contents interesting, as they cover information on relevant topics such as:

- Know what a serious injury solicitor can do for you, and how to choose one
- Compensation and case funding
- Information on the spine (a very vulnerable area)
- Planning in the event of spinal injury

The information they contain is presented in a clear, concise and informative style, and can be helpful if you are seeking professional services in those areas. As expected, it includes the firm's contact in case you wish to know more (initial discussions of personal cases seem to be provided free of charge, which is a plus).

In the case of severe injury, the intervention of professionals of multiple areas is always essential, to help people to better cope and start the path to the best possible recovery. The needs of both the victim and their loved ones should be taken care of, to ensure proper conditions.

Helplessness can easily set in after such events, making it hard to plan or act. Remember, five main things must be assured, when disaster does strike:

- Expert legal counsel
- Specialized psychological support for self and loved ones
- A proper rehabilitation plan
- Appropriate living conditions (which includes issues like mobility and communication)
- Favourable financial assistance, if necessary

Relevant things to think about, and useful information for reference, on a subject most people hope to never have to deal with. Prevention and good practices can save lives, in more ways than one; expert knowledge in key areas, in turn, can provide support in the face of what can no longer be avoided.

The football kind of work accident: Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-10-22T06:59:00.000-07:00

And now for a more sports-fan approach to occupational health and safety! When people think about the term "work accident", they tipically imagine an accident in an industrial setting. But this is a limited perspective of the issue: a work accident is any such event that occurs in the line of any kind of work. Let's then look at the effects of an accident in an atypical setting: football (or soccer, for the readers from the US).

You may have already heard about Cristiano Ronaldo (it's hard not to, with all the publicity)... the famous portuguese player that was hired by the spanish club Real Madrid in 2009, for an astronomical amount of money. If you're a fan of Manchester United, you've heard for sure, due to the controversy it generated. That transference gave him the title of "most expensive player in football history", up until the present moment, due to its value of £80 million (which is the same as saying €94 million or US$132 million). Preposterous sums, therefore. But that's not the issue here... on to the point. Recently, while playing for the Portuguese National Team, Cristiano Ronaldo sustained an ankle injury, which causes him to be out of action for probably around a month. Ouch indeed. Imagine the losses caused by such a high-price downtime, for the employers (economic) and the employee (physical and professional)! But just as a football player can hurt his feet when playing, you can hurt your hand, your head, your back, or just about anything else, in the course of your duty.

Of course, that's what insurance is for, no doubt. Any company (which a football team also is, after all) needs to have the mechanisms in place to ensure that the worker is compensated (its a weird example to be giving on this, but the man has his rights too, even if he makes more in an hour than most in a year) and has access to the medical care required to get better. I'm sure both the spanish club and the portuguese team do... but does YOUR company have them? It should. And you should be informed of what they are, just in case. In addition, most countries require that any worker, specially self-employed ones, have a professional health insurance, that covers personal damage and damage caused to others by eventual malpractice.

Besides these posterior compensations for business and worker, there should also be adequate support on site, to prevent a worsening of the injuries sustained... first-aid is usually mandatory. When Cristiano Ronaldo felt his ankle give way, he immediately notified the team medics, being replaced and medically assisted. Note that this is not a privilege of an expensive football player, though... its the right of ANY worker. Even if a medic cannot be present in every workplace, the first-aid kit should, and people should be trained to use it properly for the most common hazards.

These are not utopic ideals: they're actually the law in most places. And the fact that it's mixed with sport stuff? Well, that just makes it even cooler (especially if it better gets the point across). What's important: be safe, whether in work or in play!

Book Review: Introduction to Health and Safety in Construction

2009-10-19T07:13:00.000-07:00

Authors: Hughes, P. & Ferret, E.
Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann (Elsevier)

[For your convenience, you can find links to the product at Amazon.co.uk (UK residents) and Amazon.com (US residents) at the end of this article.]

This book is, without a doubt, THE standard text for anyone interested in taking the NEBOSH National Certificate in Construction Safety and Health, or anyone who develops work in the construction business: Introduction to Health and Safety in Construction (3rd Edition). Based on the Qualification and Curriculum Authority, it is a whooping 624 pages, with diverse chapters that even discuss study techniques and practice NEBOSH questions for each material.

In my opinion, it is a well designed resource both for students and professionals, making it a worthy resource for just about everyone. Fortunately, it does not make for boring read, being composed by clear text suitably accompanied by images and graphics to illustrate the discussed materials. Most topics include bulleted lists for easy reference and memorization. One of its main advantages is the fact that is serves as a handy guide for a vast number of needs in the field, drawing from experience and covering just about everything you're bound to find. The roles of each professional are also discussed, so that every aspect is attended and responsability falls where it is due... a very wise element, in my opinion. Where nothing is left at random, there is a smaller probability for the occurence of any kind of work accident (and if a accident happens, as they often do, consequences will be less severe).

Let's take a look at the topics covered, as described by the index:

- H&S Foundations
- Policy
- Organizing for Health and Safety
- Promoting a Positive H&S Culture
- Risk Assessment
- Principles of Control
- Monitoring Review and Audit
- Incident Investigation, Recording and Reporting
- Construction Law and Management
- Construction Site Issues
- Movement of People and Vehicles - Hazards and Control
- Manual and Mechanical Handling - Hazards and Control
- Work Equipment Hazards and Control
- Electrical Hazards and Control
- Fire Hazards and Control
- Chemical and Biological Health Hazards and Control
- Physical and Psychological Health Hazards and Control
- Working at Height – Hazards and Control
- General Site Issues – Hazards and Control
- Excavation Work and Confined Spaces – Hazards and Control
- Demolition – Hazards and Control
- Summary of the Main Legal Requirements
- International Aspects of H&S in Construction
- Study Skills
- Specimen Answers to NEBOSH Examinations

Quite a broad range of issues discussed, all very relevant and elaborated along the book. Bottom Line: recommended for all students and professionals in this area of work... every member of your team should have one. Especially those with H&S or management responsabilities.

Order it today from Amazon.co.uk:
Introduction to Health and Safety in Construction (3rd Edition)

Or, if you live in the USA, you can order from Amazon.com:
Introduction to Health and Safety in Construction, Third Edition: The handbook for construction professionals and students on NEBOSH and other construction courses

Recommended.

Safety & Humour - 2

2009-10-09T04:22:00.000-07:00

And still, people wonder how work accidents happen... how, indeed?

This image may look like something anyone in their right mind wouldn't do (clearly not the case there), but this one is even more common than you'd think. Scary, right? Piling stuff to get to higher places, no safety whatsoever, is a frequent mistake that many people don't repeat after they see the results. So, don't do it in the first place, and avoid the work accident altogether :)

NEBOSH

2009-10-02T04:08:00.000-07:00

NEBOSH is a name that many may have already heard of, in the field of Occupational Safety and Health. But what does it stand for, and what is it?

NEBOSH is the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health, a UK-based examination board founded in 1979, responsible for accreditation (providing certificates and diplomas) on matters of safety, health and environment. There are many courses around the world, in order to prepare for NEBOSH examinations.

They provide the following certificates and diplomas:

- National Certificate in Occupational S&H
- National Certificate in Construction S&H
- Fire Safety and Risk Management Certificate
- International General Certificate in Occupational S&H
- National Certificate in Environmental Management

- National Diploma in Occupational S&H
- International Diploma in Occupational S&H
- Specialist Diploma in Environmental Management

In time, we're going to be discussing much more about NEBOSH exams, syllabuses and diverse materials, here at "Prevent a Work Accident"... so be sure visit often! Feel free to explore the resources available here, to prepare yourself for an exam or just to know more.

Importance of sleep

2009-09-28T15:27:00.000-07:00

It is a consensual fact that being well-rested during work hours is of vital importance, in order to be able to maintain concentration, focus and quick reaction times. Therefore, it is fundamental to remember: enough rest helps to prevent work accidents. It is also very important in decision-making, affecting judgement and on-the-spot decisions.

In the medical field, for example, studies have shown that the lack of rest largely increases the probability of medical error. This is a particularly important conclusion, since it is fairly common for medical professionals to pull multiple and continuous shifts (especially in the emergency room), whether to compensate shortage of staff, increase learning experiences, or to complement income. A tired doctor does not necessarily mean an unsteady one, but it surely means that he is most likely less focused than he could be under better conditions… and that, in medicine, can just be the difference between a life saved and a life lost.

The amount of sleep needed to properly rested varies from person to person, it is quite a subjective matter. But in average numbers, there is an absolute minimum of at least three hours (not to be made into an habit), and a relative maximum of eight to ten hours. Even though some people need more than ten hours of sleep to feel rested, for the majority of people it is not a recommended amount of time, as it can produce effects on the nervous system.

Properly timed sleep also has an effect on learning and performance, through the cognitive processing that goes on during dreams, as reported on You Psychology, a website on psychology and CBT.

Medical equipment and hygiene

2009-09-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

Most hospitals and clinics, although not all, have an internal rule that states that medical wear and gear (such as scrubs, labcoats, masks, stethoscopes, ...) cannot be worn outside the hospital facilities. Sounds weird, right? Why shouldn't medical professionals be allowed to go outside for a while without having to change clothes?

There is a very good and valid reason for this rule... and unfortunately, even in places where this rule exists in writing, it is often overlooked or ignored. The motive behind this imposition is connected to infections: medical wear and gear easily gather contaminants in non-clean environments, and can unwittingly carry germs from outside the facilities to the inside, or from the inside to the outside. It is a sanitary issue that all medical professionals should be aware of, and that should be addressed by all medical organizations.

Patients in hospitals often have weakened immunitary systems, due to already existing ilnesses or post-surgery recovery. When they are infected by such contaminants (even the most common ones), the risk of complications increases, as they have less means to resist the effects. When such infections occur, and the cause can be traced to negligence of the professionals involved, the patient or respective familiy should have the right to seek legal compensation.

Hospital health and safety can mark the difference between lives saved or lives endangered. As the phrase goes, "choose life".

Safety & Humour - 1

2009-09-18T08:05:00.000-07:00

Workplace safety is a serious thing. However, that doesn't mean the subject can't be approached in a funny way, creating awareness about some of the unthinkable things that are happening even nowadays in workplaces all around the world! Guess the moral would be: when lack of rules or care takes over, accidents can (and often do) happen.

This post inaugurates the work safety humour tab... a reference on WHAT NOT TO DO!

Perception of warning signs

2009-09-14T17:43:00.000-07:00

Safety signs are all around us. They serve a very important function, warning against a number of dangers that surround us in our daily work life.

However, we are sometimes so used to seeing them around, that our mind becomes accustomed to their presence. Thus, they become nearly "invisible" to our eyes. Adding to this the fact that most people take safety for granted, it spells work accident all across. And this is when we overlook the fact that many safety signs around are so worn or vandalized that their purpose is all but lost.

So, it is urgent that organizations take measures to "refresh" these signs. Psychology has long given its contribute to this, by suggesting alterations that challenge our accustomed perceptions. As a result, some companies choose to alter the placement of the signs; others alter their colors; others yet use attention-seeking strategies. A police initiative, some time ago, that consisted in the placement of life-sized police-uniform-equipped dolls on the side of the road, to discourage speeders around road-side work-sites, is a personal favorite.

Other informations on Psychology can be found at YouPsychology.com (a site on psychology applied to daily life).

Be creative, be aware, be safe.

Safety / Risk Management

2009-09-13T00:12:00.000-07:00

In an ideal setting, every workplace should have a safety management system. That would mean having a well-defined set of plans and measures to

a) prevent accidents;
b) to ensure that, if they happen, the damages (personal and material) will be minimized;
c) to investigate and record the events thoroughly, and;
d) to assess who or which departments are responsible (to be held accountable or to flag a need for improvement).

So, in order to claim having proper risk management, the safety standards (such as the OHSAS 18001) recommend to organizations the development of the following elements:

- emergency planning
- first aid provision
- accident investigation
- appropriate record keeping
- active and reactive monitoring
- provision of rehabilitation programmes
- reviewing and auditing performance

This is one of the steps required for a occupational health and safety certification, which in turn brings a lot of credibility to any business, showing a commitment to the well-being of the workers, to improvement, and to an effective strategic management.

Mesothelioma

2009-09-12T15:17:00.000-07:00

Professions closely linked to work with asbestos, that involve prolonged exposures to this material, pose a health risk when it comes to certain types of cancer-related illnesses. If in the course of your work you were exposed to asbestos, especially if for long periods of time, it would be better to consult a doctor and check for signs of asbestos poisoning. Related illnesses are:

- Mesothelioma
- Asbestosis
- Lung cancer
- Diffuse pleural thickening

Due to a period of latency of 10 to 40 years, symptoms of exposure to asbestos may take a long time to manifest. Mesothelioma, for example, is almost always caused by exposure or the inhalation of asbestos particles.

Since the beginning of the millenium, over 60 countries have for the most part banned the use of asbestos. To this date, many lawsuits have been filed, concerning asbestos-related illnesses, many of which resulted in significant compensations being payed to the afflicted workers.

Health and Safety Executive's annual figures (07/08)

2009-09-12T00:08:00.000-07:00

According to the Health and Safety Executive [UK], the key annual figures regarding work accidents for 07/08 were the following...

"Ill health
- 2.1 million people were suffering from an illness they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work.
- 1.3 million of these cases were suffered by people working during the year, of which 563 000 were new cases.
- 2.056 people died of mesothelioma in the year of 2006, and thousands more from other occupational cancers and lung diseases.

Injuries
- 229 workers were killed at work, a rate of 0.8 per 100 000 workers.
- 136.771 other injuries to employees were reported under RIDDOR, a rate of 517.9 per 100.000 employees.
- 299.000 reportable injuries occurred, according to the Labour Force Survey, a rate of 1.000 per 100.000 workers.

Working days lost
- 34 million days were lost overall (1.4 days per worker), 28 million due to work-related ill health and 6 million due to workplace injury."

Numbers that should make us all pause for a moment and wonder the real-life effects each one of these had, on all the people they involved (workers and relatives). Remember: safety always comes first.

Work Accident Statistics - Safety Monitoring

2009-09-11T04:30:00.000-07:00

Safety monitoring is usually done through work accident statistics, regarding index rates for frequency, incidence, severity, mean duration and duration. Of these, the rates for incidence are the most commonly used. But how are they all calculated? Let's take a look...

Frequency rate
(total number of accidents : total number of man hours worked) x 100.000

Incidence rate
(total number of accidents : number of persons employed) x 1.000

Severity rate
(total number of days lost : total number of man hours worked) x 1.000

Mean duration rate
(total number of days lost : total number of accidents)

Duration rate
(number of man hours worked : total number of accidents)

Work Accident

2009-09-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

What constitutes a work accident, exactly? A work accident is an event (often of a violent nature) that occurs without intention and unexpectedly, during the execution of work or as a consequence of it, that causes temporary or permanent damage to the health of the worker (or, in extremis, an occupational fatality).

Usually, in order for an work accident to legally qualify as such there must be a direct or indirect causal relationship between the causing event and the work. If the accident work occurs due to the employer or any of his/her direct substitutes not having respected safety regulations, the employer is usually under an obligation to compensate the victim.

Introduction

2009-09-09T08:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome to "Prevent a Work Accident".

This is a blog dedicated to informing people, across professional areas, about things like work accidents & work accident prevention, safety standards, and procedures to reduce or (ideally) eliminate occupational hazards, among other things. As the blog progresses, its intended to be a valuable gathering of knowledge and resources, concerning how to be safe at work.

The main ideia is: people that don't have to constantly fear about their safety in the work environment can be happier, focused and more productive at work, which is good for both employees and employer. So, don't leave things at chance... prevent undesired things and promote desired ones. Read "Prevent a Work Accident", learn, share experiences and know-how, and be safe.

Meanwhile, have a safe day at work!