Tag Archives: human error

General Safety Issues

FIVE COMMON CAUSES OF FIRE IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

 

Knowing how to prevent fires and what to do in the event that a fire does break out is one of the most important components of workplace safety. In order to have a truly safe workplace, it is absolutely crucial that you understand what factors and circumstances can lead to fires, and then take active steps to ensure that you eliminate the risk of fires as much as possible. Here are five common causes of fire in the workplace with which all employees should familiarise themselves (list provided by FireandSafetyAustralia). Once you understand well the common causes of fires, you will be better able to identify steps that can be taken in order to prevent them. 

Faulty electrics 

Faulty electrics such as wiring, adaptors and power boards are very often responsible for disastrous fires. This is a particular risk in old buildings that have been poorly maintained. Ensure that you have a qualified electrician assess your electrics, and at the first sign of any faults such as frayed wiring have a professional rectify the problem immediately. Adaptors, power boards and plug points should never be overloaded, and when in doubt you should not hesitate to seek the advice of a qualified electrician. Ensure that safety switches and the appropriate fuses are installed by a professional. Because of the potential for danger, any electrical problems must be addressed immediately. 

Flammable materials 

Extra caution must be exercised when there are flammable materials on or near the premises. When handling or storing flammable materials, it is of the utmost importance that all the necessary safety precautions are observed, and that the prescribed procedures for storing such substances are strictly followed. For instance, when storing liquids that are flammable and combustible, appropriate storage containers must be used and only the allowable quantities and sizes should be permitted. When disposing of flammable materials, care must also be taken to follow all safety guidelines. 

Human error 

Your employees are not robots, and human error is inevitable no matter what kind of work your employees are doing. You should always pre-empt any accidents and put in place safeguards and emergency procedures to be followed should something go wrong. For instance, all staff should be educated as to the proper procedure to follow should an employee spill a flammable liquid or accidentally damage wiring. 

Negligence  

While some degree of human error is to be expected in any enterprise, many people fail to consider that gross negligence is also a possibility. Albeit a more distant possibility it is one that can yield disastrous results. You should do all you can to lower the likelihood of negligent behaviour. For instance, employees should be constantly reminded that flammable or waste material should never be kept near heat sources not only verbally but also through the use of prominent signage. 

Crime 

Sadly, fires are sometimes caused by deliberate antisocial behaviour. Arson or vandalism can be carried out not only by strangers but also people known to you such as disgruntled former employees. While it can be difficult to pre-empt such behaviour, it is important to be vigilant, especially when your workplace is particularly vulnerable, for instance because flammable materials are stored on the premises. If your workplace is identified as a dangerous or vulnerable location, it is necessary to maintain tight security at all times. It might be necessary to employ security personnel to be on the premises twenty four-seven, and to ensure that the identity of all persons entering the premises is verified. 

While fires are usually impossible to pre-empt, if you make a conscious effort to ensure that all precautions are taken, you will be able to effectively reduce the risk of fire at your workplace. As it is impossible for laymen to accurately pinpoint the fire safety needs of your particular workplace, it is recommended to seek advice of experts or consult government guidelines. You should never compromise safety for convenience, not least because the lives of your employees depend on your efforts to maintain a safe workplace.

Our thanks to Toni-Louise Forsyth, for sharing these fire safety procedures. pb

General Safety Issues

HUMAN ERROR IN THE WORKPLACE

First of all, we are all humans, and humans aren’t perfect.  We often hear that the cause of an accident was “human error.”  After investigation, that may be found to be true.  But there is a correlation between the workplace environment and the human that is employed there.  We know that businesses must comply with government regulations and standards of safety and health for their employees. 

It would seem that the starting point of avoiding human error is to establish strong policies and procedures.  Beginning with human resources personnel, who pass on valuable information to new employees, and following through with training, management, good communication, and the design of a workplace that leads to safety – are all  factors that will ensure that  people work successfully.  

I can truthfully admit that as a new employee, with early-on training, I still didn’t understand fully about my new job.  It takes time and practice to really catch on.  Maybe some are faster learners that I was, but I know that when there’s too much information to absorb, it’s easy to make errors.  I did clerical work, and there’s certainly room for error there.  Think about someone who does data entry all day long, and may miss just one digit on the keyboard, causing costly errors.  (Remember the computer glitch that caused the Stock Exchange to seemingly tank not too long ago?)  Between 70% and 90% of workplace errors are attributed to “human error”, but it may be due to a mismatch between the plan of the systems with which they may be required to work and the way they think and work. 

If a company assures their employees that they want an employee to report a mistake they made, in order to ensure safety, without reprimanded, those workers will be more likely to do so.  Many times workers are under peer pressure, or demands of their supervisors to complete a job hurriedly; or they may be placed in a work environment that is not conducive to safety.  The blame does not fall on the employee under these conditions.  For example, if their job requires charting or reading meters, and the lighting isn’t adequate, whose fault is it when the readings  are incorrect?  

Companies must have a strong safety committee that enforces compliance with safety rules.  If employees know that  part of their job evaluation is based on their compliance with safety rules and wearing the Personal Protective Equipment they are required to wear, they may be more vigilant to avoid making mistakes.  Continued safety training and repeated training is important to the success of any employer.  Another key to good safety practice is to have some type of reward for employees who recognize and report a potential hazard.  If employers could rotate the repetitive and boring types of responsibilities among several persons, by giving them different tasks, a safer workplace could be established.  Posters always play a valuable role in reminding workers to stay alert. 

As stated earlier, there will always be “human errors.”  Some of those errors have proved to be very devastating to  individuals and families, such as airline crashes or medical errors.  These are usually the ones that are reported to the public.  But small mistakes or big ones will continue being made.  Every single person needs to be more aware of the consequences of their mistakes, and do the very best they can do.