In the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) there is no definition of an accident but the regulations indicate that an accident includes an act of non-consensual violence done to a person at work. The reporting requirements are linked to the outcome, eg injury, and not the events which give rise to the outcome.
Principles of Accident Prevention
Health and safety at work
There are three aspects to the prevention of accidents at work.
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The creation of a safe place of work.
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The development and operation of safe working practices.
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Ensuring the personal safety of all employees.
A systematic approach should be adopted which takes account of the risk assessment requirements of relevant legislation, in particular Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR). Adequate management control should be achieved by putting into practice the required actions identified in any risk assessments undertaken.
Safe place of work
A safe place to work is a prime requirement of the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 (HSWA).
The approach to creating a safe place of work requires consideration of:
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separation of the worker from the hazard
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containment of the hazard
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removal of the hazard, eg by exhaust ventilation for appropriate disposal.
In general, the development and application of the approach to creating a safe place of work is based upon sound engineering principles. This should be the initial approach to be adopted. Engineering strategies can remove much, if not all, of the vagaries of human behaviour as they can ensure only certain actions or conditions are met, eg by provision of interlock switching to prevent access to moving parts of machinery. Good design of the workplace can make it easier for individuals to make the correct choices and actions.
Only where engineering applications by themselves will not sufficiently control risks should other strategies be adopted. Often the nature of the work activities and tasks will prevent engineering solutions being the sole means for risk control.
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 apply to all workplaces except ships, building and construction sites.
The creation and maintenance of a safe place of work must be achieved by ensuring:
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workplace structures and buildings are safe at all times
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buildings are stable and suitable for the tasks to be carried out
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environmental conditions, eg heating, lighting and ventilation, provide for the comfort and well-being of employees and are suitable for the nature of work being done
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the workplace is free of hazards arising from the use, storage, transport and disposal of materials, substances and waste
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floors, walkways and access arrangements (including roads) do not pose a hazard and space should be adequate to allow risk-free movements of people, materials and moving equipment (eg fork lift trucks)
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areas where it may be possible to fall from a height are guarded; such areas include:
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roofs where access is required to ventilation equipment and for other maintenance purposes
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process operations carried out at different heights (eg filling of high level hoppers, split or mezzanine floors in factories)
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protection is provided to guard against falling objects
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the processes of keeping the workplace clean, ordered and tidy are adequate.
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provision for sanitary and washing facilities, storage and changing of clothing rest rooms and arrangements for meals and provision of drinking water are adequate.
Organisational factors
The general principles of prevention need to be applied in a systematic and cohesive manner. This will depend on establishing both appropriate management systems and a culture which will support a high level of safety performance. The health and safety culture of the organisation is an important factor which can help to influence the attitudes and actions of those working in the organisation.
Management systems
The identification of hazards and associated risks should form the basis of developing the approach to creating a safe place of work, safe practices and ensuring personal safety. In very general terms, the focus should be on the development of management systems which will ensure that the strategies adopted to prevent accidents can actually work. It is essential that the approach is systematic, follows the principles generally laid out in HSG65 Managing for Health and Safety, and can be demonstrated to achieve the requirements of the general duties in Regulation 5 of MHSWR. This relates to the requirement to make arrangements for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of preventive and protective measures.
