What is an “Accident?”What is an “Accident?”

• Major attributesMajor attributes– Unintended causesUnintended causes– Undesirable effectsUndesirable effects

• Minor or Sub factorsMinor or Sub factors– Suddenness of eventSuddenness of event– Damage results from one of the forms of Damage results from one of the forms of

physical energy, e.g. mechanical, thermal, physical energy, e.g. mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, etc.chemical, electrical, etc.

Accident Prevention vs. Injury Control

• Accident Prevention refers to those efforts designed to deal with unintentional causes.

• Injury control refers to efforts to eliminate or reduce the undesirable effects or consequences.

• Both accident prevention and injury control are concerns for safety-minded individuals.

““Accident”Accident”• Role of intent – If INTENT is involved Role of intent – If INTENT is involved

and precedes the injury or damage and precedes the injury or damage producing event, then it is not an producing event, then it is not an accident, but rather a criminal act.accident, but rather a criminal act.

• The term “accident” is more likely to be The term “accident” is more likely to be used when the event exhibits these three used when the event exhibits these three characteristics:characteristics:– Degree of expectednessDegree of expectedness– Degree of avoidabilityDegree of avoidability– Degree of intentDegree of intent

Two Definitions of an “Accident”Two Definitions of an “Accident”

• A sudden, unplanned (unintended) event A sudden, unplanned (unintended) event which results in death, injury and/or which results in death, injury and/or property damage from one of the forms of property damage from one of the forms of physical energy.physical energy. – Thygerson – Thygerson

• That occurrence in a sequence of events That occurrence in a sequence of events that usually produces unintended injury, that usually produces unintended injury, death, or property damage.death, or property damage. – National – National Safety Council (no longer used)Safety Council (no longer used)

““Safety” versus “Risk”Safety” versus “Risk”

• RiskRisk – The probability of a negative – The probability of a negative occurrence as well as its severity.occurrence as well as its severity.– Measurable, therefore a scientific activityMeasurable, therefore a scientific activity

• SafetySafety – Acceptable risksAcceptable risks– Value judgmentValue judgment– Ever-changingEver-changing

Fallacious Beliefs Regarding Fallacious Beliefs Regarding AccidentsAccidents

• The “other fellow” concept, whereby it is The “other fellow” concept, whereby it is assumed that accidents happen to other assumed that accidents happen to other people but won’t happen to you.people but won’t happen to you.

• The “your number’s up” concept The “your number’s up” concept whereby it is assumed that “when your whereby it is assumed that “when your number is up,” you will get hurt and number is up,” you will get hurt and there is nothing you can do about it.there is nothing you can do about it.

More Fallacious BeliefsMore Fallacious Beliefs

• The “law of averages” concept, whereby The “law of averages” concept, whereby accidents and injuries are shrugged off as accidents and injuries are shrugged off as due to inevitable statistical laws.due to inevitable statistical laws.

• The “price of progress” concept, whereby The “price of progress” concept, whereby accidents are rationalized as the accidents are rationalized as the inevitable price of scientific inevitable price of scientific advancement.advancement.

More Fallacious BeliefsMore Fallacious Beliefs

• The “spirit of ’76” concept, whereby The “spirit of ’76” concept, whereby living dangerously is glorified and safety living dangerously is glorified and safety measures are regarded as sissy.measures are regarded as sissy.

• The “act of God” concept, whereby The “act of God” concept, whereby accidents are seen as divinely caused – accidents are seen as divinely caused – for punishment or for some purpose for punishment or for some purpose unknown to us.unknown to us.

Disabling InjuryDisabling Injury

• A disabling injury is an injury causing A disabling injury is an injury causing death, permanent disability or any death, permanent disability or any degree of temporary total disability degree of temporary total disability beyondbeyond the day of the injury. the day of the injury.

Years of Potential Life LostYears of Potential Life Lost

• YPLL – While unintentional injuries are YPLL – While unintentional injuries are the fifth leading cause of death, accident the fifth leading cause of death, accident victims tend to be younger than those for victims tend to be younger than those for the leading causes of death. Ranked by the leading causes of death. Ranked by years of potential life lost before the age years of potential life lost before the age of 65, unintentional injuries are the of 65, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of deaths.leading cause of deaths.