1. Lecture #1 Summary
Construction industry has one of the highest accident rates. Very little data on worker health impacts.
Difference between following the law and making it a work culture
Safety & Health have been secondary project objectives but is gaining importance today.
Practices vary widely between companies in the same country and across countries

2. What is an Accident ?
An unplanned event ? (which may or may not result in damage – injury)
Can we “plan” to avoid an “unplanned” event ?
Is a near-miss an accident ?

3. NO DAMAGE OR NO INJURY CASES
MAJOR, MINOR & NEAR-MISS ACCIDENTS.
MAJOR ACCIDENT 1
MINOR ACCIDENTS 29
NO DAMAGE OR NO INJURY CASES
300

4. Goals-Freedom Alertness
Accident Theories – (why do accidents occur & how can they be prevented)
Accident Proneness
Goals-Freedom Alertness
Adjustment-Stress
Distractions Theory
Chain of Events

5. Accident Proneness Theory
Are some people more accident prone ?
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 propensity
Fatalistic
Extroverted
Aggressive

6. Accident Proneness Theory
Perception and willingness to take risks - Risk Proneness
Age .vs. Risk Proneness
Situation .vs. Risk Proneness
Only few hypotheses have been validated statistically
How can it be applied to reduce accidents ?

7. Goal Freedom Alertness by Kerr
Psychologically rewarding environment leads to safe work performance
Well defined goal by Management through worker participation
Freedom to pursue the goal
Results in Alertness to achieve the goal
How can it be applied to reduce accidents ?

8. Adjustment-Stress Theory Kerr
Diversion/Stress compromises safe performance
Complement to earlier 2 theories – GFA
Diversion –External or Internal

9. Adjustment-Stress Theory
Internal Stress
Fatigue, Alcohol, Anxiety
External Stress
Noise, Illumination, Temperature
Generated on Job or Outside
Management Focus to reduce job stress –
cost, time restrictions
Unsafe environment
Poor interpersonal relationships
Mgmt sensitivity to outside job stresses

10. Proportion of Accidents Explained

11. Distractions Theory-Internal Hinze
Accident causation theory applied to a situation where there is a recognized hazard.
Focus on
Task (High task achievement)
Distraction (Low task achievement)
Are productivity and safety in conflict ?

12. Distractions Theory-Internal
Distraction Due to work hazard
High
Probability of Injury
Low Focus
Serious Hazard
Moderate Hazard
Minor Hazard
High Focus
Low
Low
High
Task Achievement

13. Distractions Theory-Internal
Example- Painter standing on a support
Distraction from the activity
High
Probability of Injury
Low Focus
Standing on stool
Standing on Ladder
Scaffolding
High Focus
Low
Low
High
Task Achievement

14. Distractions Theory-External
(Mental Distractions)
Example- Preoccupation with issues not related to work
External Distraction Source!! (positive or negative)
High
Probability of Injury
High Focus
Serious Distraction
Low Focus
Trivial Distraction
Low
Low
High
Task Achievement
HOW CAN MANAGEMENT APPLY DISTRACTIONS THEORY ?

15. Chain-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.

16. 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 ?

17. 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

18. CHAIN OF EVENTS PROJECT ORG MANAGEMENT UNSAFE ACTS UNSAFE CONDITION
WORKER
INJURY

20. Summary- Accident Theories
Accident Proneness
Goals-Freedom Alertness
Adjustment-Stress
Distractions Theory
Chain of Events