Work accident is one of the risks that can occur in the work environment. Human error is the most common cause, but there are a number of other factors, such as natural disasters and work equipment, that could potentially be the cause.
Although undesirable, work accidents are sometimes difficult to completely avoid. In addition to ensuring that companies are required to provide work safety facilities, it never hurts to understand more deeply about the definition of a work accident and its various aspects.
Work Accident Definition
The definition of a work accident is an incident or incident that causes a person to suffer physical or mental injury. These accidents occur because of things related to work, for example, accidents at work or on a trip while you are doing work.
Factors causing work accident
Work accidents can be caused by several factors.
Work accidents usually occur due to a combination of several factors. The following are the factors that cause work accidents that most often occur.
1. Human factor
Human error (human error) is one of the biggest causes of work accidents. For example, carelessness when operating machinery or not wearing full protection.
The cause of this work accident can be completely prevented by continuing to comply with work safety protocols.
2. Material factor
There are many causes of this work accident. Examples of work accidents due to material factors include explosions, fires, and unexpected exposure to toxic substances.
However, this risk can be prevented by wearing complete safety clothing and taking precautions in work planning.
3. Equipment factor
The cause of this accident is derived from human carelessness. The reason, humans who use these tools.
The thing that most often happens is an accident due to equipment that is no longer suitable for use or is rarely maintained.
4. Environmental factors
The causes of work-related accidents refer to the state of the workplace. For example, temperature, noise, air quality, and lighting quality.
The cause of this work accident can be minimized by complying with work safety protocols at the location.
5. Process factor
Process factors include threats that arise from the production process. A worker may experience health problems due to flying dust, steam, smoke, to noise associated with production.
Impact of work accidents based on the injury
The impact of a work accident based on the injury.
Although not all work accidents cause injuries, this can also result in fatalities.
Injuries due to work accidents are divided into several groups according to their severity, namely:
- Fatal injury (fatality): work accident that results in the death of a person.
- Injuries that result in lost time from work (loss time injury): a work accident that results in a person suffering from permanent disability or losing his productive time for one or more working days.
- Injuries that result in lost work days (loss time day): work accidents that result in employees not being able to come to work.
- Unable to work or limited work (restricted duty): accidents that result in employees experiencing changes to parts or work schedules/patterns.
- Hospitalized (medical treatment injury): a work accident that results in a person having to be hospitalized or outpatient under the supervision of a doctor.
- Minor injury (first aid injury): For example, abrasions, dust in the eyes to irritation, and others.
- No injury (non-injury accident): potential events that can lead to work accidents. However, fire, explosion, and waste disposal do not fall into this category.
The provision of first aid depends on the level of injury suffered by the worker in an accident at work.
Workers with fatal injuries should be referred to a hospital immediately, whereas minor injuries may be relieved in the workplace itself with simple first aid.
Types of work accidents by place of work
There are types of work accidents based on the workplace, such as:
1. Electronics (manufacturing)
- Sliced, cut
- Run over, run over
- Contact with chemicals or other hazardous materials
- Gas leak
- Decreased hearing or vision power.
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What Is A Hazard: Definition, 5 Groups, and Benefit of Hazard Identification
2. Metal production (manufacturing)
- Squeezed, run over
- Punctured, cut, scratched
- Falling slip
- The occurrence of contact between the skin with liquid metal or non-metallic fluids.
3. Petrochemicals (oil and coal, rubber, or plastic production)
- Squeezed, run over
- Sliced, cut, scratched
- Falling slip
- Crashing
- Hit hard
- Inhalation or skin contact with hydrocarbons, ash, gases, vapors, fumes, and toxic dew.
4. Construction
- The possibility of falling from a height
- Stuff hit from above
- Trampled
- Get hit by falling or collapsing items
- Contact with hot, cold, to noisy temperatures
- Fall or roll over
- Squeezed or run over
- Crashing
- Hit hard.
Prevent work accidents
In addition to employees who have to protect themselves from work accidents, business owners must also take various precautions.
In addition, employees are required to wear personal protective equipment and practice a safe attitude in carrying out their work.
This is done so that they can avoid losses due to work accidents that have an impact on their physical and financial health.
In addition, the company can provide insurance for its employees. One option that can be chosen is to register employees in the Work Accident Insurance program.