Unsafe Acts and

Unsafe Conditions
OBJECTIVES

 Understand the basic Work Accident causation Theories;

 Define accidents, unsafe acts and unsafe conditions;
 categorize and specify different situations and practices that
comprise unsafe/unhealthy acts and conditions.
Why people got sick in
workplace?

Why Accident Happen?

 COMMON REASONS FOR ACCIDENTS

Layman’s version:

 ‘Oras na kasi niya, hayaan na siyang mamahinga!’

 ‘Ang malas naman niya!’
 ‘Tanga kasi niya!’
 ‘Kasama sa trabaho yan!’

These are not real causes - - -

only EXCUSES
 Causes of Accidents
 Lack of Safety Awareness

 Lack of Skill

 Shortcut or Deviation from the Standard &

Procedures

 Complacency or Over Confidence

 Negligence
 Background: The WORK SYSTEM
People

Environment Equipment

Materials
Accident Theory
The WORK SYSTEM

People
People

Environment
Environment Equipment
Equipment

Materials
Materials
ACCIDENT
An occurrence or event  loss; damage
that is unexpected/ unforeseen,
unplanned and unwanted.  injury
 death
 A risk is the
Something that has a potential for
chance, high or
injury
low, that someone
or something will
be hurt by that
hazard.
 Anatomy of Accident

hazard hazard
WORKER

BARRIER

BARRIER
hazard hazard
 Iceberg Theory
Direct Costs
• Medical Costs • Wasted raw materials

• Compensation • Damaged property / equipment

• Lost Time:
Injured Worker,
Supervisor • Training New Employees
• Overhead Costs
• Spoiled Product
• Legal Fees
• Unhappy customers
• Increase in Insurance Cost
• Cleanup Time
• Schedule Delays Indirect Costs
LET’ S CHECK THIS:
IMMEDIATE CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS

• Unsafe / Unhealthy
ACTS
• Unsafe / Unhealthy
CONDITIONS
 UNSAFE / UNHEALTHY ACT

 A human action that departs from a standard or written job procedure or common
practice, safety rules, regulations, or instructions.

 A violation of a commonly-accepted safe procedures and or processes.

Factors Contributing to Unsafe Acts

• Improper Attitude

• Physical Limitations

• Lack of Knowledge

or Skills
 IMPROPER ATTITUDES

 Using defective equipment

 Horseplaying
 Operating equipment without authority
 Disregard of SOP or instructions
 Willful intent to injure
 Working while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS
 Defective eyesight
 Muscular weakness due to fatigue
 Impaired hearing
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OR SKILL
 Failure to understand instruction
 Unaware of safe practices
 Safe practices are not understood
 Unskilled or unpracticed
 UNSAFE CONDITION
• The physical or chemical property of a material, machine or
the environment that may result in injury to a person,
damage or destruction to property and other losses;
• could have been guarded or prevented.
EXAMPLES OF UNSAFE CONDITIONS
• Inadequate guards/protection
• Defective tools, equipment
EXAMPLES OF UNSAFE CONDITIONS
 Congested / blocked exits
 Inadequate warning systems
EXAMPLES OF UNSAFE CONDITIONS
 Congested / blocked exits
 Inadequate warning systems
 Slippery floors
 Hazardous atmospheric condition
EXAMPLES OF UNSAFE CONDITIONS
 Excessive noise
 Extreme temperature
 Inadequate illumination/ ventilation
A fatal accident is just the TIP of the iceberg

1 Death
10 serious accidents
100 minor injuries
1,000 hazardous occurrences
10,000 unsafe acts or conditions
Can accidents be
prevented?
 ACCIDENTS / ILLNESSES

US / UH US / UH
Acts 88% Conditions -10%
2% - non-preventable

•Unaware
•Unnoticed
•Unable
•Uncorrected
•Unmotivated
CONCLUSION:

Both the human and the technical factors

of accident causation should be addressed.
A comprehensive OSH program is needed
to prevent accidents from happening.
 OBSERVATION, INSPECTION,
MANUALS,OSH STANDARD
REPORT

PTD,PPD,FATA
HIGH L

MEDIUM TTD

LOW FIRST AID

ELIMINATE SUBSITITUTE ENGR. ADMIN P.P.E

 Not using PPE issued for the job
THANK YOU!