SAFETY ENGINEERING

ACCIDENTS ANDTHEIR CAUSES

Chapter- 3

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WHAT IS AN ACCIDENTS ??

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CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS

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CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS
• Hard Ware Causes
– Equipment

– Process

– Materials

– Physical condition of workers

– Psychological causes
It may be
– Men
– Machine
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– Materials
CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS
– Physical causes
• Improper condition of machine

• Improper use of machine

• Improper tools for the job

• Old and worn-out tools.

• Improper handling of materials like

explosives, paints,
1 acids, bitumen etc. 7
CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS

• Negligence in using
personal protective
equipment.
• work place not maintained
properly
• Poor light and ventilation.
• Improper scaffolds and
ladders.
• Inadequate cofferdams.
• In adequate shore during
excavation.
• Improper discipline among
workers
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CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS

• Physiological causes
– Related to human health
– Poor eye sight of the worker
– Poor health condition
– Poor hearing condition
– Old age
– Under age children
– Intoxication
– Physical disability
– Other sickness
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CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS

• Psychological causes
– workers should be mentally free
– Some causes to influence are
• Anxiety(nervousness)
• Worries
• Fear(terror)
• Anxiety of competition
• Peer relation
• Relation with supervisor
• Emotions
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CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS
• Software Causes of Accident:
• Knowledge based causes
– Inadequate plan and program for work:
i.e Lack of :
– proper safety plan
– training:
– signage and signals

– Errors and Mistakes

• adequate information and knowledge.
• Less interest on the job
• monotony etc 1 11
COMMON ACCIDENTS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES

• Falling from Height

– Working place
– Scaffolding
– ladder
– Formwork
– Roof
• Hitting by falling object
– Falling materials
– Falling tools
– Materials from the1 edge of the trench 12
COMMON ACCIDENTS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES

• Accidents with Machines

– Licensed operator
– Proper operation
– Condition of machine
• Third party inspection
• Safety devices: horn, side mirror, signal lights,
etc.
– Operating speed
– Signaling
– Signage
– Proper clothing 1 13
COMMON ACCIDENTS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES

• Accidents with Transport Vehicles

– Speed
– Heavy load
– Odd load

• Blasting

– Qualified blaster
– Designed charge
– Controlled blasting
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– Clearing of the area

COMMON ACCIDENTS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES

• Under - water Work

– Drowning is common hazard
• Provide mask
• Provide adequate PPE

– Certification by engineer that it is inevitable

– Quality of tools

– Electrical safety

– Safety from animals

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COMMON ACCIDENTS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES

• Accidents with
Chemicals
– Burn
– Poison intoxication
• Manufacturer’s
certificate
• Safe storage
• Use by trained staffer
– Care of gases and
fumes
• Always proper PPE
– Knowledge and skill of
supervisor 1 16
COMMON ACCIDENTS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES

• Fire hazard
– According to the U.S. Fire Administration,
there are more than 4,500 construction site
fires that annually cause approximately $35
million in property loss.

– Some causes of fire at construction site

• Criminal Activity and Vandalism

• Smoking
• Electrical
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• Cooking
COMMON ACCIDENTS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES

• Deep Excavation
– Collapse of side walls
– Falling of excavated
materials from the edge
– Fall of persons from the
edge
– Confine
– At working area
• Light and ventilation
• Number of persons are
controlled – 2.25 sqm/person
• Safe access provided –
ingress, egress 1 18
• Escape route provided –
COMMON ACCIDENTS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES
• cranes & lifting equipment:

– Recorded for responsibility

– test certificate

– Is the operator trained and

competent?

– Are the controls (livers, handles,

switches, etc.) Clearly marked ?

– Has the weight of the load been

ascertained?

Due to their weight and size, workers and

drivers can be seriously injured or killed in
an accident.

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How to control Risks and
Hazards
 THE COST OF ACCIDENTS
Direct Cost
•Medical costs
•Compensation payments
•Insurance Premiums
Indirect Costs
•Production loss/worker distraction
• Training costs/replacement worker
• Loss of skill/efficiency - slowed production
• Paperwork
• Administrative time
• Loss of morale
• Legal issues
• Medical expenses
• Wages
• Equipment
• Workers compensation premium

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LOSSES DUE TO ACCIDENT

• Direct Losses
– Payment made to replace, remake correct the damage due
to accident.
– Payment made as compensation for other’s property
– Payment made to the doctor and medicine cost for the
workers or by the workers
– Losses of production by the injured worker after the
accident at the rate of cu m per hour.
– Loss of time and hence the production of the fellow workers
who stop work after accident to attend the effected fellow
worker or to correct the situation.
– Losses to the worker of his wages for the period he cannot
work.
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LOSSES DUE TO ACCIDENT

• Indirect Losses

– Loss of time of fellow workers who stop or slow down the

work because of curiosity or to show sympathy

– Loss of supervisor’s time who has to attend the injured

worker.

– Loss of time in making alternative arrangement because of

the accident.

– If accident causes death or permanent disablement of the

worker, losses will occur to recruit and train a new worker.
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LOSSES DUE TO ACCIDENT

• Social Losses

– Family may go economically dependent

– Children may loose education

– Old parents may die of shock

– Mental attitude may change even after recovery from

accident

– Others may be affected by1 the horrified accident 24

CALCULATION OF LOST HOUR AND LOST RESOURCES

• Lost time is calculated as the sum of workdays and work hours not
performed by an injured employee. This includes all shifts where the
employee is not able to perform their duty as normal. This time
continues to accrue until the employee can return to regular duties.
• Accident cost per man hour is calculated as Divide the total accident
cost by the number of man hours worked during the periods in which
accident costs were measured. For example, for annual accident cost
per man hours, divide the total cost of accidents in that year by the total
number of hours worked by employees in that year.
• Calculation of lost hour:
• Lost time formula: =No. of actual working
days × No. of lost hours / day × No. of
manpower = No. of hours

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CALCULATION OF LOST HOUR AND LOST
RESOURCES

• Example: 1
• The project contract is 6 months, Which, by
the way, is not really 180 working
days ,unless your man –power work seven
days per week . On average, there are only
26 working days each month. No of lost
hours per day is 2 hours and no. of
manpower is 8. Find the total lost hour
• Solution
Lost time formula: = No. of actual working
days× No. of lost hours/ day× No. of man-
power = No. of hours
Lost hours=156 days(here,26*6 days) × 2
hours×8 electricians=1 2496 hours . 26
CALCULATION OF LOST HOUR AND LOST
RESOURCES

• Example: 2
• Your estimate says the project will require 5,000 man- hours to
build. The contract is 6 months, which, by the way, is not really
180 working days- unless your man-power work seven days per
week. On average, there are only 26 working days each month.
Find the total number of man-power to complete the project.
• Solution:
So six working months is only about 6*26=156 working days.
Now apply the formula:
No of man-power required=Number of man- hours 5,000 hours ÷
156 days ÷ 8 hours = 4.00 Number.
• Calculation of Manpower:
A simple formula to calculate Manpower= Total man-hours÷ actual
work days÷ 8 hours/day

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THANK YOU !

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