Case Background
Through incident management, safety and health incidents at work can be prevented, addressed, documented, and analyzed. The primary purpose of writing an incident report is to determine what went wrong and what can be done to prevent a recurrence. In this case study, 17-year-old Lionel Grant, an apprentice, broke his leg after falling approximately 1.8 meters into a pit used for inspection or garage work. His co-workers say the situation was serious and may have even been fatal for Mr. Grant.
There were other times when Lionel was affected by unfortunate events. Once, he had unknowingly sniffed a strong chemical from an unlabeled bottle. The chemical would have corroded his skin if a co-worker had not informed him.
On another occasion, Mr. Grant informed the manager that one of the other workers was smoking outside the main entrance. Although it was the proper thing to do, his relationship with the worker he reported was damaged. On the day of the incident, Mr. Grant was almost hit by a car and had to stop talking to the driver before he could sound his warning horn. Although Mr. Grant was called, he did not respond, most likely due to the roaring of the compressed air hoses.
Based on the case study, an effective analysis of the case scenario’s outcomes and root causes is required. Mr. Grant’s fall was precipitated by his being at a higher height, which suggests that he encountered some kind of difficulty right before the fall. Statistics indicate that a significant percentage of workplace fatalities can be attributed to falls from heights, most commonly resulting from falls from ladders. The most common explanations include a slip on the ladder’s steps, an improperly set-up ladder, or a knockover.
When people fall from great heights, the area of their body that reaches the ground first usually suffers the most damage and has a higher risk of dying. An estimated 80 serious injuries, such as shattered limbs and cracked skulls, occur annually as a result of such falls. Even a fall of less than 2 meters can cause fatal injury.
Had the paint remover come into contact with Mr. Grant’s skin, the chemical would have caused him harm. The lack of proper labeling on the chemical was a primary contributor to the accident. Corrosion of the skin and an influence on the respiratory system are just two examples of the harmful effects that may result from exposure to unlabeled substances in the workplace. Workers’ health and safety may be at risk from exposure to chemicals in the workplace; hence, these substances must be clearly labeled as such.
A passing car almost knocked Mr. Grant out because of the loud noise from the compressed air hoses. Many people, especially in the workforce, suffer from the adverse effects of excessive noise. Accidents and injuries increase when employees are too exhausted from the mental and physical strain of working in a noisy environment to heed warning signals. In this situation, Lionel may have avoided injury by paying attention to the driver’s warning signs.
Legal, Theoretical, and Evidence-Based Aspects
In light of the presented case scenario, an individual is tasked with effectively applying risk management principles to the tools, environments, and workplaces in question. To minimize potential dangers, it is important to take the following measures while managing risks:
Identify the Hazards
Long-term health risks, such as exposure to loud noise and potentially harmful elements, should be evaluated. Therefore, keep a close eye on the region and see if anything out of the ordinary is happening (Bhattacharya & Gulati, 2017). The case study reveals that the employees had hypotheses about what led up to the incident and how it occurred.
Each potential cause needs to be carefully considered. After identifying the root causes, the manager should be able to implement fixes. If an accident occurs while using a ladder, for instance, management should ensure a swift switch to safer tools. The manager must replace hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives to protect employees’ health.
Decide Who Might Be Harmed and How
In this scenario, a fall from a great height clearly harms Mr. Grant. The next stage is to assess how his broken limb has affected him. Lionel may suffer permanent damage to his legs as a result of the accident, or he may experience long-term problems like pain, weakness, and discomfort from metal implants (Bhattacharya & Gulati, 2017). Therefore, Lionel should ensure his leg is fully healed to avoid such difficulties by undergoing all necessary medical operations.
It is possible that some of the workers were exposed to the chemicals when they inhaled second-hand smoke from a smoking co-worker. The inhalation of toxic chemicals has far-reaching consequences for human health, including the suppression of the immune system and the subsequent development of allergies and asthma (Bhattacharya & Gulati, 2017). Employees can prevent these kinds of accidents by properly securing potentially dangerous materials in locked containers and educating themselves on proper handling and safety measures.
Evaluate the Risks and Decide on Precautions
Mr. Grant could have been on a ladder or a car when he lost his balance. In such a situation, the manager could escape risks by resorting to less hazardous means of reaching higher levels. To lessen potential harm, a paint stripper that uses a less dangerous chemical should be used. The supervisor should also denounce smoking in the workplace and address the repercussions for offenders.
Record the Findings and Implement Them
Implement all the safety measures that can reduce the likelihood of accidents and involve the whole workforce.
Review the Risk Assessment and Update It
It is crucial to evaluate the results of the implementation process and determine whether any adjustments are necessary.
Incident Investigation
It is crucial to examine the efficacy of several methods for identifying the root causes of accidents, including inspection, auditing, inquiry, and sampling (Katsakiori et al., 2019). Determining the root cause during an incident investigation is crucial for several reasons, including reducing the likelihood of recurrence, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations (such as those governing workplace safety), satisfying legal requirements, and estimating the financial impact of a mishap (Katsakiori et al., 2019).
An incident investigation can be used to gain a deeper understanding of what happened. Some incidents may require a review of processes to determine if changes are necessary to ensure employee safety. As a result, disseminating findings and data helps prevent future accidents and mitigate other risks.
Inquiry
In this case scenario, workers assisted the investigators by discussing potential factors in Mr. Grant’s accident. The manager will be able to detect and correct any unnoticed violations of health and safety legal compliance by conducting investigations into workplace accidents and reported occurrences of occupational illness. An investigation can help understand why the current risk control steps fell short and identify the need for improvements or new measures (Katsakiori et al., 2019).
Reporting
Reporting incidents is complementary to the investigations that follow. Workers are encouraged to report accidents and injuries promptly, ensuring that anyone who is hurt receives timely medical attention. To evaluate risks and take appropriate corrective action, timely and accurate reporting of hazards and other incidents that pose definite or probable adverse consequences to health and well-being or damage to the environment is necessary (Katsakiori et al., 2019). According to the degree of the accident, immediate measures may be required to limit the number of people injured. In this scenario, every employee must undergo a medical evaluation because they were exposed to potentially hazardous chemicals.
Application of Theories to the Case
Accident Causation Theory
Human error is often considered a contributing factor in most accident theories. Inappropriate reactions, overload, and distractions are all contributors to human error. Theories of accident causation attempt to understand the underlying factors that contribute to accidents (Katsakiori et al., 2019). Understanding accident causation theory is crucial when attempting to prevent workplace accidents from recurring. Domino, systems, event, and human variables are some of the other theories that have been put out.
Domino Theory
According to the case study, the domino theory and the examination of human factors offer the most effective explanations. According to the domino theory, these elements all have a role in an accident, whether it be a mechanical failure or a human error. It is safe to assume that some sort of technical failure caused Mr. Grant’s injury and that he also had interpersonal problems with one of the other workers, which negatively impacted his social life.
Human Factors Theory
Human factors theory considers both external and internal influences. Mr. Grant disagreed with one of the workers. Compressed air hoses caused considerable noise, which almost caused a car to hit him. Even before the accident, his pre-existing conditions put him at a higher risk of falls.
Risk Prevention and Management
The majority of workers are regularly exposed to health risks in their workplaces. Therefore, managers are responsible for mitigating the hazards that expose workers to potential health problems from chemical, biological, physical, and psychological risks. Implementing preventative measures against health risks might be challenging (Sidorenko, 2019). So, they typically include a risk assessment to identify and prioritize the threats.
Some alternatives include elimination, exchange, engineering controls, and management policies (Sidorenko, 2019). The company should be able to remove potentially hazardous tools from the workplace. In this case scenario, a defective ladder must be removed from service if it was responsible for Mr. Grant’s fall and subsequent injuries.
The potentially risky product or machine can be substituted for one that poses less risk (Sidorenko, 2019). The presence of chemicals in the garage necessitates the installation of additional ventilation systems to protect workers from exposure to these hazardous substances. Every institution requires clear policies and procedures to operate effectively.
Health Risks
The case study reveals that management is aware of the serious health risks associated with smoking in the workplace but has not created a policy prohibiting employees from doing so (Sidorenko, 2019). Because some chemicals can cause skin corrosion, managers must provide personnel with personal protective equipment (PPE) to limit their exposure (Hassall, 2022). Isolating the process, installing fume hoods, and employing general dilution ventilation are also effective means of managing chemical hazards.
Physical Risks
Workers in the garage are particularly vulnerable to biohazards due to the industrial nature of the space. Therefore, management should implement several preventive safety measures to protect employees from potential biological hazards (Hassall, 2022). Some of the precautions that the management should take include reporting all incidents to the authority, wearing personal protective equipment like gloves and aprons when responding to situations involving biohazards, using proper disposal methods using labelled bags, washing hands frequently with warm water and soap, and paying attention to each situation (Hassall, 2022).
Psychological Risks
When it comes to the well-being of employees in the workplace, psychological hazards are just as dangerous as any other element. Psychological hazards are features of management at work that increase the potential for unfavorable outcomes, such as work-related stress and its effects on employees’ health and well-being (Resmi et al., 2014). To mitigate the potential for psychological harm, employers must establish and enforce policies that prevent workplace bullying and ensure that workers of all ages are treated fairly (Stagg et al., 2018).
Safety Management
A safety management system integrates the various aspects of a workplace that must be considered to ensure a risk-free environment for employees (Caponecchia & Wyatt, 2021). Key elements of any effective safety management system include:
- Safety Plan. Ensuring a well-organized management system that guarantees all employees are aware of and able to fulfill their safety responsibilities is a crucial part of any successful safety program. In this case scenario, the parking garage management needs to institute policies to ensure all workers are safe. It is his responsibility to ensure that the policies are easily accessible and that the staff adheres to them (Caponecchia & Wyatt, 2021).
- Policies, Procedures, and Processes. They ensure that all safety-related actions, such as maintaining records, reporting incidents, and notifying the appropriate parties, are adequately documented. The manager is responsible for highlighting all workplace events and the associated safety measures or modifications to control the hazards and prevent recurrence (Caponecchia & Wyatt, 2021).
- Training and Induction. All new employees in a workplace should receive orientation to familiarize themselves with the company’s policies and procedures. The training needs to be tailored to the individual’s level of risk. In this case scenario, Mr. Grant must be instructed on the proper procedures and safety precautions to take while in the workplace (Caponecchia & Wyatt, 2021).
- Monitoring. A fresh risk evaluation should be conducted in the event of a technique change, which should be reviewed during the monitoring phase. In this scenario, a checkup is required to ensure the functionality of newly installed systems, such as ventilators. The investigating process that follows an incident also necessitates close monitoring. This is done to ensure that all possible hazards are identified and countermeasures are established to reduce their frequency of occurrence (Resmi et al., 2014).
- Supervision. Management should consider supervision to ensure worker safety on the job. Determining whether the control mechanisms in place are being fully implemented requires conducting follow-up processes.
- Reporting. Every workplace has a policy that requires immediate reporting of any safety concerns. Management needs to be aware of several key aspects, including how risks are identified, their level of hazard, and the preventive measures taken. Workplace accidents are less frequent when people report them, and safety measures are more likely to be successful when they do (Caponecchia & Wyatt, 2021).
To ensure that a safety management system is applied, it is essential to:
- Verify that the person designing the safe work system possesses the necessary skills and has a thorough understanding of the task.
- Identify all significant risks that can be anticipated, assess the potential dangers, and determine effective mitigation strategies to address them.
- Implement the company’s health and safety policy by coordinating the safe work systems inside a separate well-being and safety management structure.
- To ensure that safe systems of work are actually implemented, they should be incorporated into formal safe operating procedures.
- Properly disseminate the safe systems of work, and back them up with coaching, formal training, and periodic aptitude assessments.
- Conduct regular reviews of safe work systems and necessary process modifications.
- Maintaining compliance with safe work practices requires establishing a system for their oversight and observation.
Lessons Learnt
People learn from the experiences they have in the workplace, such as the one described in the case scenario above. Understanding what caused an accident and what may have been done to prevent it is crucial for implementing future measures to lower associated risks. Neglecting safety measures or lacking adequate training are two leading causes of workplace accidents (Spearpoint & Hopkin, 2020).
Proper safety protocols must be implemented, and workers must be trained, to reduce the number of people injured by falls. As a result, the number of people injured or killed as a result of a fall is reduced (Spearpoint & Hopkin, 2020). Safety procedures to prevent workers from falling from heights include:
- Any fall risk while working should be taken seriously. When working on precarious ground, it is important to have all the correct equipment on hand.
- Since falling is more likely at greater heights, evaluating potential hazard scenarios and dangers is crucial. Before ascending a ladder, it is essential to consider every angle and report any problems to the authorities.
- Protective measures should be taken to lessen the likelihood of injury or death in the event of a fall from a high place. A person ought to know what to do and what not to do.
- There needs to be an immediate and efficient emergency response to occurrences involving falls.
- All safety measures and assessments of potential hazards in the workplace should be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure ongoing effectiveness.
- Maintenance facilities for fall prevention measures should be adequate to ensure that all employees have access to up-to-date information and the necessary tools in the event of an emergency (Spearpoint & Hopkin, 2020).
Any workplace that uses chemicals should take chemical safety very seriously. When businesses implement a chemical safety program, they lessen their adverse effects on employees’ health and the environment. Injuries, illnesses, fires, explosions, and property damage are all possible results of improper use, storage, and handling of chemicals (Woniak, 2019).
Therefore, businesses must ensure their employees are properly protected from chemical hazards by providing them with appropriate protective gear like goggles and gloves, isolating potentially dangerous substances in their own storage areas, labeling their containers, providing adequate ventilation in their own space separate from the rest of the building, and providing extensive training on proper chemical handling procedures (Woniak, 2019).
The detrimental effects of noise in the workplace include decreased productivity, impaired communication, permanent hearing loss, and an increase in the occurrence of health problems and hearing-related incidents. In the case scenario, a car almost hit Mr. Grant due to the noise produced by the compressed air hoses. Therefore, the administration should select and purchase low-noise machinery, keep all equipment well-oiled and regularly serviced, contain the noise generator in a soundproofed chamber, and minimize the impact of any vibrations. Eliminating distracting noise in the workplace will have a positive impact on efficiency, safety, and overall health.
Policies and procedures must be established and followed in any workplace. There will be fewer accidents and injuries as a result of this (Woniak, 2019). In this case scenario, Mr. Grant reported that one of the employees was smoking in the workplace. The manager, though, paid no attention to his concerns. The garage is a hazardous place to work due to the presence of toxic chemicals and the fact that smoking is permitted there. Managers should pay attention to all employees, regardless of experience or age (Woniak, 2019). He also needs to ensure nobody is hurt at work and that everyone can talk freely without fear of retaliation based on their position.
Key Findings and Conclusions
Based on the case study, it can be concluded that safety management in the workplace is essential. Therefore,
- Workplace training is essential before beginning a new job. Coaching on safety management should be ongoing for both new and current staff.
- Reporting workplace accidents is a crucial step in mitigating potential risks. The most effective way to ensure that employees feel secure when reporting misconduct is for management to establish a reliable reporting system.
- The importance of interpersonal connections in the workplace, particularly for the mental health of workers, cannot be overstated. The mental repercussions of working in risky environments are often overlooked in favor of the more visible physical ones. As a result, it is particularly challenging for workers whose minds have been affected by hazardous conditions.
Recommendations
Some factors should be taken into account for any work to be safe for all workers, and these include the following:
- Employee health should be thoroughly documented and reported to management upon hiring. This will allow management to account for the wide range of risks faced by their staff.
- Managers should provide more data on possible threats to employee health and safety. In terms of potential hazards, specific workplaces contain more dangerous chemicals and machinery than others.
- Workplace injury and illness reporting systems should be evaluated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics with assistance from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
- To help management find control methods proportional to the risks, it is necessary to classify each work environment in terms of the types and levels of exposures connected with it.
- Further studies are needed on the mental and physical responses of employees to common and potentially harmful workplace exposures, including biological and chemical agents.
Reference List
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