What is an “Accident?”

1. What is an “Accident?” • Major attributes • Unintended causes • Undesirable effects • Minor or Sub factors • Suddenness of event • Damage results from one of the forms of physical energy, e.g. mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, etc.

2. Accident Prevention vs. Injury Control • Accident Prevention refers to those efforts designed to deal with unintentional causes. • Injury control refers to efforts to eliminate or reduce the undesirable effects or consequences. • Both accident prevention and injury control are concerns for safety-minded individuals.

3. “Accident” • Role of intent – If INTENT is involved and precedes the injury or damage producing event, then it is not an accident, but rather a criminal act. • The term “accident” is more likely to be used when the event exhibits these three characteristics: • Degree of expectedness • Degree of avoidability • Degree of intent

4. Two Definitions of an “Accident” • A sudden, unplanned (unintended) event which results in death, injury and/or property damage from one of the forms of physical energy. – Thygerson • That occurrence in a sequence of events that usually produces unintended injury, death, or property damage. – National Safety Council (no longer used)

5. “Safety” versus “Risk” • Risk – The probability of a negative occurrence as well as its severity. • Measurable, therefore a scientific activity • Safety • Acceptable risks • Value judgment • Ever-changing

6. Fallacious Beliefs Regarding Accidents • The “other fellow” concept, whereby it is assumed that accidents happen to other people but won’t happen to you. • The “your number’s up” concept whereby it is assumed that “when your number is up,” you will get hurt and there is nothing you can do about it.

7. More Fallacious Beliefs • The “law of averages” concept, whereby accidents and injuries are shrugged off as due to inevitable statistical laws. • The “price of progress” concept, whereby accidents are rationalized as the inevitable price of scientific advancement.

8. More Fallacious Beliefs • The “spirit of ’76” concept, whereby living dangerously is glorified and safety measures are regarded as sissy. • The “act of God” concept, whereby accidents are seen as divinely caused – for punishment or for some purpose unknown to us.

9. Disabling Injury • A disabling injury is an injury causing death, permanent disability or any degree of temporary total disability beyond the day of the injury.

10. Years of Potential Life Lost • YPLL – While unintentional injuries are the fifth leading cause of death, accident victims tend to be younger than those for the leading causes of death. Ranked by years of potential life lost before the age of 65, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of deaths.