Consequences of incidents

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Consequences of incidents

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Introduction

It is important to note that the definition of an accident requires a distinction to be made between the consequences of the accident and the accident itself.  In other words, accidents result in losses or consequences; they are not the consequences themselves. 

      Consequences of accident type incidents

      The table below lists typical consequences of accident type incidents.

        Consequences of accident type incidents

        ·       Injuries

        ·       Illnesses

        ·       Polluted air

        ·       Polluted ground water

        ·       Damaged property

        ·       Interrupted work-flow

        ·       Damaged motor vehicles

        ·       Damaged products and material

          Consequences of incidents

          The consequences listed above illustrate that not only people suffer the consequences of accidents, but that property, processes and the environment suffer as well.  In fact, it is virtually impossible to separate these four elements because they are so closely interrelated.  

          With this in mind, a truly effective systems approach to SHEQ management should address all four elements of a working system: People, Property, Processes and the Environment. A brief description of each of these elements is provided in the table below.

            Four elements of a working system

            People

            Employees, contractors, customers, visitors, suppliers, the public.

                  Property

                  All types of tangible property such as tools, machines, vehicles, facilities, lifting gear, transportation systems, hand tools, personal protective equipment, chemicals, feed-stock and other raw material, products, and supplies.

                        Processes

                        Production and work methods used to produce the end product or service. Processes usually relate to actual physical processes; however with the acceptance that a management systems approach is an effective means for controlling incidents, management and administrative processes should also be considered as part of this element.

                              Environment

                              All parts of the surroundings for the people at work as well as the surroundings in which the site operates, including air, water, land, natural resources, flora and fauna.

                                    An accident is a contact which results in unintended harm. With this in mind, an accident sequence can be divided into three phases, namely:

                                    1. PRE-CONTACT.

                                    2. CONTACT, and

                                    3. POST-CONTACT.

                                    • The event (i.e. the incident or accident) takes place when the contact occurs.
                                    • The circumstances and factors preceding the contact form the pre-contact phase of an incident.
                                    • The consequences of an incident occur at the post-contact phase.
                                    • The incident actually occurs at the time of the contact.

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                                          Example

                                          When we change the oil in our vehicles at home and spill some oil on the ground, the contaminated soil is a consequence of the accident. The incident itself took place when the oil came into contact with the soil.