Accidents, breakdowns and other workplace incidents disrupt work and are the most common cause of failure or disruption to production or work processes, resulting in financial losses. Companies strive to prevent them as far as possible.
See an overview of the most common accidents and breakdowns.
The most common accidents and breakdowns in the workplace
- Slips, Trips, and Falls: These are frequent incidents that can happen due to slippery surfaces, uneven flooring, or cluttered walkways.
- Machine Entrapment: Workers can get caught in machinery, leading to serious injuries.
- Cave-Ins: Particularly relevant in construction or excavation work, cave-ins can occur when soil or structures collapse.
- Being Pulled into a Machine: Similar to machine entrapment, this involves getting pulled into moving equipment.
- Crushing: Crush injuries can result from heavy objects or machinery.
- Knocks and Bumps: Minor collisions with objects or surfaces.
- Suffocation: Lack of oxygen due to confined spaces or other factors.
- Poisoning: Exposure to toxic substances.
- Being Struck by Moving Machinery: Accidents involving moving parts of machinery.
- Disease and Death: Occupational illnesses and fatalities.
- Equipment Failure: Malfunctioning tools or equipment.
- Traffic Accidents: Relevant for workplaces with vehicle traffic.
- Fires and Explosions: Fire hazards and explosions.
- Falling Objects: Objects falling from height.
- Assault or Violence in the Workplace: Incidents involving physical harm.
- Chemical Spills: Accidental release of hazardous chemicals.
- Security Incidents: Loss of keys, security breaches, or cyber attacks.
Prevention of accidents and faults
In a well-functioning company, a systematic preventive approach is essential to minimize the occurrence of accidents and faults. This preventive approach operates on two levels:
Planned Maintenance and Repair
- This level involves proactive measures to maintain equipment, machinery, and infrastructure.
- Regular inspections, scheduled maintenance, and timely repairs help prevent unexpected breakdowns and malfunctions.
- By adhering to planned maintenance schedules, companies can identify potential issues before they escalate into accidents or faults.
- see planned maintenance and repair
Dealing with Situations as They Arise
- When accidents, breakdowns, or other process disruptions occur, swift action is crucial.
- Employees should promptly report incidents to the relevant responsible managers.
- Following the incident report, a thorough investigation is necessary. The goal is to identify the root causes of the problem.
- Once the causes are understood, corrective actions can be implemented. This continuous improvement process ensures that similar incidents are less likely to recur.
Remember, accident prevention requires commitment, cooperation, and a safety-conscious culture within the organization. By prioritizing safety and addressing issues promptly, companies can create a safer work environment for everyone involved
How to report incidents, and workplace accidents in Aptien
- Employees report incidents through forms on the intranet
- The company easily customizes forms to meet its needs.
- Using an automatic workflow, incidents are directed to responsible managers or specialists.
- They use Incident organizer for investigation