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Unsafe Act and Conditions
Accident:
Accident is a harmful event that happens unexpectedly and can lead to results in injury to people and in some cases may cause death or cause damage to properties.
Primary Causes of Accidents:
Unsafe act:
There are many ways in which “unsafe act” can be defined and may vary from organization to organization but literally have the same message for us unsafe act is “A deviation from a conventional job process or safe practice, as well as safety standards or guidelines”. For example
Inability or negligence to follow STANDARD work instructions: venting of toxic gases in the atmosphere.
Lack of knowledge or skills to perform tasks: Charging of sodium methoxide without proper training into a batch reactor.
Working without authority: entering a confined space without permit to perform work.
Working without PPE’s: Manual charging of Chemical in the batch reactor through manhole without wearing safety googles, hand gloves, safety suit and safety shoes.
Safety devices are bypassed or removed: carrying out high pressure reaction in batch reactor without installing safety valve.
Unsafe condition:
A workplace condition that is likely to result in property damage or injury.
Consider the following scenario:
Poor guarding – compressor or pump running without guard.
Poor housekeeping: spillage of chemical on floor.
Poor ventilation: Cleaning of batch reactor from inside.
Inadequate warning systems: No hooter in the plant during fire in the plant.
Excessive noise: preventive maintenance of compressor not done.
Prevention of accidents:
The most effective way to protect the employees by eliminating the work-related accidents. This can be achieved by the elimination of unsafe conditions in the process plant/factory.
Approximately 80% of all accidents in the process plant/factory are due to unsafe acts. Hence proper training shall be given to employees regularly by demonstrating on how to act safely.
Regular Audits need to be conducted to identify the unsafe conditions and shall be rectified. This helps the employees in learning the importance of elimination of unsafe condition.