Accident Prevention

Accidents are preventable, but only if they are correctly described and understood. Since the mid-1980s accidents have come to be seen as the consequence of complex interactions rather than simple threads of causes and effects. Yet progress in accident models has not been matched by advances in methods. The author's work in several fields (aviation, power production, traffic safety, healthcare) made it clear that there is a practical need for constructive methods and this book presents the experiences and the state-of-the-art. The focus of the book is on accident prevention rather than accident analysis and unlike other books, has a proactive rather than reactive approach. The emphasis on design rather than analysis is a trend also found in other fields. Features of the book include: -A classification of barrier functions and barrier systems that will enable the reader to appreciate the diversity of barriers and to make informed decisions for system changes. -A perspective on how the understanding of accidents (the accident model) largely determines how the analysis is done and what can be achieved. The book critically assesses three types of accident models (sequential, epidemiological, systemic) and compares their strengths and weaknesses. -A specific accident model that captures the full complexity of systemic accidents. One consequence is that accidents can be prevented through a combination of performance monitoring and barrier functions, rather than through the elimination or encapsulation of causes. -A clearly described methodology for barrier analysis and accident prevention. Written in an accessible style, Barriers and Accident Prevention is designed to provide a stimulating and practical guide for industry professionals familiar with the general ideas of accidents and human error. The book is directed at those involved with accident analysis and system safety, such as managers of safety departments, risk and safety consultants, human factors professionals, and accident investigators. It is applicable to all major application areas such as aviation, ground transportation, maritime, process industries, healthcare and hospitals, communication systems, and service providers.

This book is about how to avoid the accidents and injuries that may occur when batteries are abused or mishandled. It is the first book to deal specifically with this subject in a reasonably comprehensive manner accessible to readers ranging from regular consumers to technical specialists. Batteries and battery processes are described in sufficient detail to enable readers to understand why and how batteries cause accidents and what can be done to prevent them. Each year in the United States alone, thousands of individuals are injured by battery accidents, some of which are severely disabling. The tragedy is that such accidents need not occur. The book is intended to satisfy the needs of a varied group of readers: battery users in general, battery engineers, and designers of battery-operated equipment and consumer electronics. Since the book is a reference source of information on batteries and battery chemicals, we believe it may also be useful to those studying the environment as well as to medical personnel called upon to treat battery injuries. There are no prerequisites for an under standing of the text other than an interest in batteries and their safe usage.

"Nurses play a vital role in improving the safety and quality of patient car -- not only in the hospital or ambulatory treatment facility, but also of community-based care and the care performed by family members. Nurses need know what proven techniques and interventions they can use to enhance patient outcomes. To address this need, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), with additional funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has prepared this comprehensive, 1,400-page, handbook for nurses on patient safety and quality -- Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. (AHRQ Publication No. 08-0043)." - online AHRQ blurb, http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nurseshdbk/

Accident Prevention and OSHA Compliance contains all the information you need to reduce or avoid injuries, illnesses, fires, and equipment damage resulting from an accident. The book provides valuable insight into how OSHA conducts its inspections and how to avoid losses and increase profits by complying with OSHA regulations. By following the easy-to-understand techniques and guidelines, you can effectively train personnel on safety and health issues. The book explains accident causes and describes unsafe acts and conditions. It offers suggestions about how to look for hazards and how to safety-check each step of a job. Guidelines are given for constructing a safety inspection list, conducting a job hazard analysis and how to revise it, organizing a safety committee, and reporting accidents to OSHA. It also includes steps that can be used to protect trade secrets. Human factors and limitations, protective equipment and its proper usage, first aid and medical care, and much more are detailed. Record-keeping requirements are given and examples of direct and indirect costs of accidents are illustrated. The effects of drugs and alcohol and tips to recognize users are discussed. Helpful appendices contain numerous charts and tables, useful contacts, and valuable additional information. The book also includes various office and home hazards and injuries, and steps to follow to make both places safe. Written by a professional with vast experience as an engineer, certified hazard control manager, professor of safety and health, and safety consultant, Accident Prevention and OSHA Compliance provides a single source covering the immense amount of information on this subject. The proven principles and practices found in this book cover every aspect of accident prevention and provide perfect solutions to profit-losing problems.

Child injuries are largely absent from child survival initiatives presently on the global agenda. Through this report, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and many partners have set out to elevate child injury to a priority for the global public health and development communities. It should be seen as a complement to the UN Secretary-General's study on violence against children released in late 2006 (that report addressed violence-related or intentional injuries). Both reports suggest that child injury and violence prevention programs need to be integrated into child survival and other broad strategies focused on improving the lives of children. Evidence demonstrates the dramatic successes in child injury prevention in countries which have made a concerted effort. These results make a case for increasing investments in human resources and institutional capacities. Implementing proven interventions could save more than a thousand children's lives a day.--p. vii.

Marine accidents can occur at any time and everywhere in the world, resulting in loss of life, property, environment and reputation of the companies involved. Preventing accidents and establishing a safer world without accidents is an important agenda for the maritime industry. Since the enforcement of the International Safety Management Code in 1998, companies have taken various kinds of measures to prevent accidents. Unfortunately, measures have been undertaken in a disorganized manner, and have not been effective. Experts of risk management, the safety management system, and accident models have each undertaken accident preventive measures within the scope of their specific fields, but have not looked beyond the realm of their own fields. This book discusses systematic accident prevention by integrating multi-disciplinary expertise based on academic research, the quality management system which has already proved its effectiveness in other fields, and findings of the author’s research. In systematic accident prevention, the weaknesses of a system within which accidents and incidents have occurred are viewed by combining scientific accident investigation data based on the International Maritime Organization model and the accident model. The nature of every type of marine accident, such as collisions, groundings, occupational casualties, etc., are derived by combining the accident model and statistical data. System weaknesses are rectified by the risk reduction method of risk management, and the rectified performance is incorporated in improvement in the system by the PDCA cycle, which is the core of the Safety Management System. We can see the weakness in the system and reduce the number of accidents and incidents while utilizing limited resources optimally to prevent accidents and incidents.

Topics covered include loss control information and analysis, safety / health / environment program organization, implementation and maintenance.