Accident
An accident is an unplanned, unexpected and undesired event that results in harm to people, damage to property, or harm to the environment. It is typically a consequence of uncontrolled hazards and often involves a sequence of events.
- Unplanned: Accidents are not intentional.
- Undesired: They result in negative consequences.
- Unexpected: They occur without prior anticipation.
- Causality: Accidents often have multiple contributing factors, not just a single cause.
- Consequences: Accidents can lead to injuries, fatalities, property damage, environmental contamination, and business disruptions.
Brief Explanation of the Term “Accident”
Accidents occur due to unsafe acts, unsafe conditions, or a combination of both. They can happen in any workplace or environment and often lead to disruptions, financial losses, or long-term consequences. Proper risk assessments, safety training, and preventive measures help minimize accidents.
Accidents are generally distinguished from incidents, where an incident is an unplanned event that does not result in serious injury or damage.
Example: A forklift operator in a warehouse is moving pallets.
The forklift operator, while turning a corner, collides with a storage rack, causing the rack to collapse and pallets to fall onto a nearby worker, resulting in a serious leg injury. This is an unplanned event that resulted in harm to a person (the worker). This accident could have been prevented by traffic management, proximity sensors, proper training and safe storage practices.