Workplace Safety: Accident Causes, Prevention, and Risk Assessment

Posted on Jan 20, 2025 in Law & Jurisprudence

Workplace Safety: Key Concepts

Consequences of Accidents:

  • Casual labor accidents
  • Occupational accidents
  • Worsening of a worker’s condition

Causes of Occupational Accidents:

  • Unsafe actions (human factors)
  • Technical issues

Principles Regarding Industrial Accident Causes:

  • Every accident has at least one cause.
  • Multiple causes often occur concurrently.
  • Causes are interrelated, multiplying the impact.

Preventive Action Focus:

  • Impact absorption techniques
  • Repair
  • Replacement

Work-Related Conditions:

  • Disease Worsening: Considered an accident.
  • Job-Related Hepatitis: Considered an occupational disease.

Accident Reporting:

  • Report to the trade union office.
  • Sick leave is considered when the worker cannot return the day after the accident.

Work-Related Factors:

  • Reduced Physical Capacity: Fatigue.
  • Repetitive Movements: Associated with various risk factors.

Objectives of Workplace Safety

  • Safety: Avoiding accidents.
  • Industrial Hygiene: Preventing occupational diseases.
  • Ergonomics: Adapting work to the person.

Risk Assessment:

  • Relates work to the risk of the specialty.
  • Calculated by severity and likelihood.
  • Reviews existing risks due to accidents or changing conditions.
  • A means of prevention planning.

Preventive Measures

  • First Step: Avoiding risks.
  • Planning Includes: Measures, media, responsibilities, deadlines, priorities, monitoring, and control.
  • Prioritization: Based on risk magnitude and number of workers exposed.

Safety Inspections and Accident Investigation

Safety Inspections:

  • Performed by: The manager of the section or department.
  • Requires: Prior knowledge of the area.
  • Detects: Hazards due to working conditions and/or worker actions.

Accident Investigation:

  • Mild Accidents: Investigated by the immediate supervisor.
  • Root Cause Analysis: Fundamental part of the investigation.
  • Post-Accident Action: Verify preventive measures and monitor their effectiveness.

Reporting Fatal Accidents:

  • Contact labor authorities within 24 hours via fax or telegram.
  • Report within the first 5 days.

Risk Assessment:

  • A complex system.

Worker Participation:

  • Workers should be present during regular reviews to detect hazardous conditions.

Risk Valuation:

  • Based on law enforcement.

Regulatory Framework

  • The LPRL (Law on Prevention of Occupational Risks), its regulations, and all laws and collective agreements containing provisions on prevention.

Obligations and Responsibilities

  • Workers: Do not have the obligation to acquire personal protective equipment.
  • Preventive Action Principles: Combating risks at the source, adapting work to the person, considering technological developments, replacing dangerous elements, adopting collective protection, and providing appropriate instructions.
  • Temporary Employment Agency: Responsible for training and health surveillance.
  • Manufacturers/Suppliers: Responsible for providing information on proper use of products and machinery.
  • Worker Protection Rights: All are false.