How do you handle accident cases is today our topic? In our series of short safety toolbox/mass toolbox meetings, we have discussed many topics and, in general, what is the first step of workplace accident prevention. However, despite everything we do, sometimes accidents do happen that result in serious injuries. So what I want to talk to you about today is the accident in the workplace procedure. What should be done immediately after an injury in the workplace? What is the correct way to respond to a workplace accident? What is the immediate care given to an injured person?
I think all of you will agree that our first concern should be with the injured person. For example, in the event of a fall from a height, it is only natural for us to ask, "Was anyone injured?" So what should be our first thought for those who are injured? So the first thing we do is provide first aid to the injured. If you have received first aid instructions/training, you will know the importance of first aid.
How do you handle accident cases near you?
If first aid is properly administered, will be primarily to provide comfort to the victim and will also prevent further injury. Do not rush to the hospital or allow anyone else to do so. Now after you have given first aid, call the doctor and an ambulance if the injury is serious enough to require it.
Sometimes the situations that follow an accident create dangers for other people. For example, as a result of an accident the equipment or material may present an electric shock, fire, or traffic hazard. Let's make sure we take care of these situations before someone else is injured or at least keep people away until the fire or maintenance department takes care of the emergency.
We have already taken care of the injured and we have prevented anyone else from being injured. What's next? We must notify the office of the accident immediately. This is important for several definite reasons. On the one hand, a complete report on the accident is necessary; on the other hand, the company must notify the insurance company, or their doctors and, of course, the family of the victim and investigate the incident.
Here are other things you should try to find and keep in mind:
- The name and address of the victim,
- The time and location of the accident, the nature of the injury and
- What was done as first aid?
- Was the injured taken to the hospital or taken home?
You need to remember all the facts about the accident for another reason. As you know, there is one possible thing we can gain from an accident: information on how to prevent similar accidents. If we are going to prevent the same type of accident from happening, we must get all the facts of what happened to cause the accident.
That is why the company does an investigation and sometimes the insurance company. There will be many questions. Remember that it is not about blaming anyone because you are not looking for a culprit. The facts are needed for statistical purposes and, as I was saying a moment ago, to take corrective measures to prevent the recurrence.
Although accidents occur due to equipment, tool, or machinery failure, the truth is that most accidents occur due to human error. And I'm not saying this because it occurs to me at this moment. I say this because I have verified it by reviewing the records of accidents that occur in our company and I know the workplace hazards.
If you were to go through a hundred accident reports one by one, or a thousand, you would realize and have to admit, that in at least nine out of ten accidents, the person who had the accident could have very easily avoided the accident.
The main reason why accidents occur is because common sense is not used. After all, established work procedures are not followed, because they involve taking unnecessary risks. In our operations we do everything necessary to find hazards and correct them, you know that very well. Engineers continually try to improve our equipment to make it safer. The Supervisors try to find more effective protection measures so that you do not get injured.
Workplace accident prevention
For my part, I try to do my best and I assure you that I am not happy when one of you is injured, to some extent everyone thinks that I am responsible for that injury. I also don't like filling out accident reports and sometimes explaining to our operations manager how an accident happened?
I don't want them to think I'm complaining. When I accepted the position of safety, I accepted, thinking about all the pros and cons, and I also took responsibility for all of you. But I'll say it again, if you don't cooperate with me, if you don't follow the instructions that I give you, I can't guarantee you, or anyone else, that you won't get hurt.
Very few accidents accidents are unavoidable. Almost all are avoidable and the causes for which they occur are repeated continuously. To finish, I would recommend that each of you, when you return to work, spend some time observing yourself, the way you perform your task, and thinking about the prevention of accidents at the workplace by self-assessment.
Conclusion
If you practice self-assessment daily, for a few minutes, in a few weeks you will have corrected a large number of mistakes that could have caused you serious injury, and you will realize that your safety "Still depends on you "…… you, Mohan…from you, Julio………..from you... Build a positive safety culture to prevent accidents.
