Seven Common Causes of Accidents
Safety Management System 2007		SMS ST058 2007

Eighty out every one hundred accidents are the results of unsafe acts of the person involved. Unsafe acts cause four times as many accidents as unsafe conditions.

Accidents occur for many reasons. It is easier to look for things to blame when an accident happens, than it is to look for the root causes, such as those listed below. Consider the underlying accident causes described below.

• Taking shortcuts: every day we make decisions we hope will help us do the job faster and more efficient. But do time savers ever risk your own safety or that of other crewmembers? Short cuts that reduce your safety on the job are not shortcuts, but an ever-increasing chance of injury.
• Being overconfident: Confidence is a good thing. Overconfidence is too much of a good thing. "It’ll never happen too me," is an attitude than can lead to improper procedures, use of equipment, or improper methods in your work. Any of these can lead to an injury.
• Starting a task with incomplete instructions: To do the job safely and right the first time you need complete information. Have you ever seen a worker sent to do a job having been given only a part of the task’s instructions? Do not be shy about asking for explanations about job procedures and safety precautions. It is not dumb to ask questions, it is dumb not too!
• Poor Housekeeping: When customers, supervisors, or fellow workers walk through your work area, they recognize that housekeeping is an indicator of everyone’s attitude about quality, production and safety. Poor housekeeping creates hazards of all types. A well-maintained area sets a standard for others to follow. Good housekeeping involves both pride and safety.
• Ignoring Safety Precautions: Purposefully failing to observe safety procedures can endanger you and your co-workers. You are being paid to follow the company’s safety policies and rules, not to make your own rules. Being casual about safety can lead to a casualty!
• Mental Distractions from Work: Having a bad week at home and worrying about it at work is a hazardous combination. Dropping your "mental guard" can pull your focus away from safe work procedures. You can also be distracted when you are busy working and a fellow worker comes by to chitchat. Do not be a statistic because you took your eyes off the your job for "just a minute."
• Failure to Plan Your Work: Remember to conduct a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) prior to beginning any task. It is an effective way to figure out the smartest way to work safely and effectively. Being hasty in starting a job or not thinking through the process can put you in harms way.