Introduction to Industrial Safety

and Health
HIDDEN COSTS OF ACCIDENTS
• Medical
• Compensation
• Time loss from work by the injured
• Loss time by fellow worker
• Damage to tools and equipment
• Time damaged equipment is out of
service
• Spoiled work
• Loss time by supervisor
• Loss of production
• Litigation costs
• Damage to corporate image
SAFETY TERMINOLOGY
ACCIDENT
• It is an undesired event that results
in harm to people, damage to
property or loss to process

INCIDENT
• It is undesired which, under slightly
different circumstances, could have
resulted in harm to people, damage
to property or loss to process
SAFETY
• It the control of hazards to attain an acceptable level
of risk.

CONTROL
• To regulate or restrain

RISK
• It is a chance of physical and personal
loss
HAZARDS
• These are unsafe practices or conditions that if not
controlled may result into the occurrence of an accident or
an incident.

Heinrich Study:
Unsafe Practice – 88%
Unsafe Condition – 10%
ILL HEALTH
• Acute and chronic ill health caused by physical, chemical
or biological agents as well as adverse effects on mental
health
UNSAFE PRACTICES/ACTS
• Are behaviors which could permit the occurrence of an
accident or incident.
• Deviation from standard procedures or practices

UNSAFE CONDITIONS
• Are circumstances which could permit the occurrence of
an accident or incident.
• Deviation from standard conditions (equipment,
materials, or environment
SAFETY PROGRAMS
• Are activities designed to assist management and
employees in the recognition, evaluation and control of
workplace hazards

SAFETY AUDIT
• It is a critical examination of the safety and health
management programs to determine their
effectiveness and compliance to regulatory standards
Reasons for Preventing Accidents
 Moral / Humane

No-one comes to work to be injured or killed

 COST
Accidents cost organisations money.

e.g. Piper Alpha – 167 people killed – estimated to

have cost over £2 billion including £746 million in
direct insurance payouts.
 LEGISLATION
Organisations have a legal obligation.

In the UK – Health & Safety at Work Act, 1974 and associated

Regulations
e.g.
Management of Health & Safety at Work Regs 1999
Quarry Regulations, 1999
Strategic Importance of Workplace
Safety and Health
• Benefits of a Safe and Healthy Workforce:
Higher productivity
Increased efficiency and quality
Reduced medical and insurance costs
Lower workers’ compensation rates and payments
Improved reputation as an employer of choice
Consequences of an Unsafe and
Unhealthy Work Environment
 UNSAFE UNHEALTHY
• Injury and Disease • Mental Health
– Back injuries are most – Psychological symptoms
prevalent can affect productivity
– Exposure to Chemicals and life away from work
• Undetected effects, • Deaths and Violence
possible long-term • Economic Costs
risk
Workplace Safety and Health Hazards
• Occupational Accidents
 Organizational Qualities
 Factors most affecting workplace
accidents:
 Working conditions and times
 Tools and technology available
to do the job
Occupational Diseases
• Disease-Causing Hazards:
Arsenic, asbestos, benzene, bichloromethylether
Coal dust, coke-oven emissions, cotton dust
Lead, radiation, vinyl chloride
• Workers most likely to be exposed:
Chemical and oil refinery workers, miners, textile
workers
Steelworkers, lead smelters
Medical technicians, painters, shoemakers, plastics
industry workers
Accident Prevention
• Design a safe work environment
Guards, handrails
Safety goggles, helmets
Warning lights
Self-correcting mechanisms
Automatic shutoffs
• Ergonomics
Change job environment to match
capabilities limitations of employees
Typical Safety Rules
• Using proper safety devices
• Using proper work procedures
• Following good housekeeping practices
• Complying with accident- and injury-
reporting procedures
• Wearing required safety clothing and
equipment
• Avoiding carelessness and horseplay
UNSAFE
UNHEALTHY ACTS
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