Following
the increasing outcry against the increasing incidence of accidents in Nigeria,
culminating in unnecessary loss of life, everybody must be actively involved in
all walks of life in the crusade for Accident Prevention. Behavioral change
theories are used to explain why behaviors change.
Theories
help us to learn or understand and predict health behavior and the mechanism
for producing a behavior change. Based on the above reasons accident prevention
deserves a unit in this course. Therefore, let us explore accident prevention
using theories.
By
the end of the article, you should be able to discuss the concept of theory,
itemize the different theories of accident prevention and mention the different
types of accident prevention.
Please
enjoy your reading.
Concept of Theory
A
theory presents a systematic way of understanding events, behavior and/or
situations. A theory is a set of interrelated concepts, definitions and
propositions that explains or predicts events or situations by specifying
relations among variables.
Theories
are used to describe the interrelationships between variables or concepts.
Human behavior is difficult to change especially when it relates to health
behavior. Our health is determined to a
large extent by what we do or do not.
Theories
can guide the search to:
1. Understand why people do or do not practice
health-promoting behavior
2. Help identify what information is needed to
design an effective intervention strategy
3. Provide insight into how to design a
programme so that it is successful.
Theories
help to explain behavior, as well as suggest how to develop more effective ways
to influence and change behavior.
Theories of Accident
Prevention
Theories are like road maps to guide researchers in the study of accident causation and prevention.
Some of these common theories among others include the following:
1. Heinrich’s Domino Theory
2. Human Theory
3. Accident/ Incident Theory
4. System theory
5. Firenzie’s System Theory
6. Combination Theory
1. Heinrich’s Domino Theory:
Heinrich's
Domino theory, also known as Sequential Event-Based Models was developed by
H.W. Heinrich in 1931. He was a pioneer in safety philosophy. Many of his
principles and basic philosophy of accident causation and prevention are
confirmed by time and application.
His
philosophy was based on 10 axioms (Self-evident- truths) as follows:
i.
Injuries result from a completed series of factors, one of which is the
accident itself.
ii.
An accident can occur only as the result of an unsafe act by a person and/or a
physical or mechanical hazard.
iii.
Most accidents are the result of unsafe behavior by people.
iv.
An unsafe act by a person or an unsafe condition does not always immediately
result in an accident/injury.
v.
The reasons why people commit unsafe acts can serve as a helpful guide in
selecting corrective actions.
vi.
The severity of an accident is largely fortuitous and the accident that caused
it is largely preventable. vii. The best accident techniques are analogous to
the best quality and productivity techniques.
viii.
Management should assume responsibility for safety since it is in the best
position to get results.
ix.
The supervisor is the key person in the prevention of industrial accidents.
x.
In addition to the direct cost of an accident (i.e. compensation, liability
claims, medical costs, and hospitals expenses) there are also hidden or
indirect costs.
According to this theory, there are five factors in accident causation:
i.
Social Environment (those conditions which make us take or accept risks).
ii.
Fault of the person/rider (excessive speed, impatience and errors).
iii.
Unsafe acts or conditions (poor road design, poor planning, unsafe equipment,
hazardous environment).
iv.
Accident.
v.
Injury.
Major
unsafe acts and conditions include:
1.
Under influence of alcohol and other drugs.
2.
Improper position for task.
3.
Incorrect use of tools and equipment, hand tools, power tools.
4.
Incorrect use of machinery
5.
Failure to wear protective equipment.
6.
Using defective equipment and tools.
7.
Removing safety guards.
8.
Making safety devices inoperable.
9.
Non-servicing of motorcycle.
10.
Hazardous weather conditions.
11.
Bad road design.
12.
Inadequate illumination.
Two Central Points of this
theory:
a.
Injuries are caused by the action of preceding factors.
b.
Removal of the central factor (unsafe act/unsafe condition) negates the action
of the preceding factor and, in so doing, prevents accidents and injuries.
These
five factors are arranged in a domino fashion such that the fall of the first
domino results in the fall of the entire row i.e. an undesirable or expected
event (root cause) initiates a sequence of subsequent events leading to an
accident.
This
implies that the accident is the result of a single cause and if that cause can
be identified and removed the accident will not be repeated, the reality of
this model is that accidents always have more than one contributing factor and
the occurrence of an injury invariably results from a completed sequence of
factors, and the last one of these being the accident itself which are caused
by unsafe acts.
Three
broad factors leading to human error are:
i.
Overload.
ii.
Inappropriate responses.
iii.
Inappropriate activities.
Worker's Capacity
·
Natural Ability, Training, State of Mind, Fatigue, Stress, Physical Condition.
· Environmental
Factors
·
Noise, Climatic, Lighting, Distractions, etc.
·
Internal Factors
·
Personal Problems, Emotional Stress, Worry
·
Situational Factors Level of Risk, Unclear Instructions, Novelty, etc
Inappropriate Responses
i.
Ignores a Suspected Hazard
ii.
Disregards Established Safety Procedures
iii.
Circumvents Safety Devices Includes Incompatibility with Person's, Workstation,
Size, Required Force, Reach, Feel, etc
Inappropriate Activities
i.
Performing tasks without requisite training.
ii.
Misjudging the degree of risk.
3. Accident/Incident Theory: Petersen's Extension to the human factors theory adds these new elements
i.
Ergonomic Traps.
ii.
Decision to Err.
iii.
System Failures.
Overload
i.
Pressures
ii.
Deadlines, budget factors, peer pressure
iii.
Fatigue
iv.
Motivation
v.
Drugs
vi.
Alcohol
vii.
Worry
Ergonomic Trap
i. Incompatible workstation
ii.
Incompatible expectations
Decision to Err.
i. Misjudgment of Risks
ii.
Unconscious Desire to Err
iii.
Logical Decision Based on Situation / Circumstances
iv.
Superman Syndrome (It won't happen to me) Bulletproof, Invincible, Immortal,
Lucky system failures v. Potential for a causal relationship between managerial
decisions/behaviors regarding safety
vi.
Policies
vii.
Responsibilities
viii.
Training
ix.
Inspections
x.
Corrective actions
xi.
Standards
4. Systems Theory of Causation: A system is a group of interacting and interrelated components that form a unified whole. The Host (People), the Agent (Machinery) and the Environment.
The
likelihood of an accident occurring is determined by how these components
interact. Changes in the patterns of interaction can increase or decrease the
probability of an accident occurring.
5. Firenzie's Systems Theory: Stressors
Person/Machine/Environment
Information
gathering
Risks
assessment
Stressors
Decision
making
Task
performance
Stressors
can cloud judgment during information gathering, risk weighing, and decision
making processes.
Firenzie's
Recommendations You must consider these five factors - before beginning the
process of information gathering, risk weighing, decision making.
i.
Job requirements.
ii.
Worker's abilities and limitations.
iii.
Gain from successful task completion.
iv.
Loss if task attempted but results in failure.
v.
Loss if the task is not attempted.
6. Combination Theory of Causation: It is very important to note that theories and models are not necessarily reality. A single theory may not suit all circumstances.
Some
theories address particular problems better than other theories. A combination
of theories and models may be the optimal approach toward problem solutions.
In
this case accident prevention.
Conclusion on the Theories of Accident Prevention
An effective accident prevention programme is an important need. However, before a suitable solution can be prescribed, the cause of the problem must be identified.
It can be broadly stated that all accidents are the result of
environmental hazards and/or unsafe behavior. But the task of changing behavior
is not an easy one. Theories help to understand the nature of targeted behavior.
In
this post, you have learned the following what is the theory of accident
prevention and Different theories of accident prevention.
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