accidents in workshop are the mishaps leading injury to man, machines, tools and equipment and may cause
injury and result either death, temporary disablement or permanent disablement of the industrial
employees.
There are various types of common accidents needing due attention to prevent them which are as
follows:
1. Near Accident
An accident with no damage or injury is called a near accident.
2. Trivial
An accident with very little damage is called trivial.
3. Minor Accident
It is an accident with damage and injury more than trivial.
4. Serious Accident
An accident with heavy damage and a lot of injury is called a serious accident.
5. Fatal
It is an accident with very heavy damage. There may be loss of lives also.
Industrial Safety
EFFECT OF ACCIDENTS in workshop
The adverse effects of the accident are given as under— ( A) Effect on
the owner of factory
(i) Direct cost of an accident
1. Cost of the compensation paid to the workers.
2. Cost of the money paid for treatment.
3. Cost of the monetary value of damaged tools, equipment, and materials.
(ii) Indirect cost of an accident
1. Cost of the lost time of the injured worker.
2. Cost of the time lost by other employees.
3. Cost of the delays in production.
4. Cost of the time lost by supervisors, safety engineers, etc.
5. Cost of the lowered production due to substitute workers.
(B) Effect on worker
1. The industrial workers may get temporary or permanent disability.
2. If the industrial worker dies, his family loses the earner and the compensation never equals
his earnings.
3. Accidents also affect the morale of the employees working in the manufacturing environment.
(C) Effect on society
Work connected with injuries puts a considerable burden on society, as given as under:
1. The cost of accidents is included in the products, so society has to pay more prices for the
industrial products.
2. If some industrial workers do not come under compensation act, the need for help from society
is much greater.
3. Loss of production hours may cause fewer products on the market. So more prices if demand is
more than production.
CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS in workshop
The accidents may take place due to human causes, environmental causes, and mechanical causes.
These causes are discussed as under.
Human Causes
1. Accidents may occur while working on unsafe or dangerous equipment or machineries
possessing rotating, reciprocating, and moving parts.
2. Accidents occur while operating machines without knowledge, without safety precautions,
without authority, without safety devices.
3. Accidents generally occur while operating or working at unsafe speed.
Industrial Safety
4. Accidents may occur while working for long duration of time, shift duty, etc.
5. Accidents commonly occur during the use of improper tools.
6. Accidents may occur while working with mental worries, ignorance, carelessness, nervousness,
dreaming etc.
7. Accidents occur because of not using personal protective devices.
Environmental Causes
1. Accidents may occur during working at improper temperature and humidity, causing fatigue to
the workers, so chances of accidents increase with workers having fatigue.
2. The presence of dust fumes and smoke in the working area may cause accidents.
3. Poor housekeeping, congestion, blocked exits, bad plant layout, etc. may cause accidents.
4. Accidents occur due to inadequate illumination.
5. Improper ventilation in the plant may also lead to industrial accidents.
Mechanical Causes
1. Continued use of old, poorly maintained, or unsafe equipment may result in accidents.
2. Accidents commonly occur due to use of unguarded or improperly guarded machines or
equipment.
3. Unsafe processes, unsafe design and unsafe construction of building structure may lead to
accidents in the plant.
4. Accidents occur due to improper material handling systems and improper plant layout.
5. Accidents may occur due to not using of safety devices such as helmets, goggles, gloves, and masks
etc.
However, the other general causes of accidents in workshops are listed under:
1. Because of ignorance to work with equipment, hand tools, cutting tools, and machine tools.
2. Operating machines and equipment without knowledge.
3. Extra curiosity to work without knowing.
4. Due to poor working conditions.
5. Because of speedy work.
6. Improper method to work.
7. Due to use of improper tools.
8. Because of a lack of discipline.
9. Uninterested in work.
10. Due to carelessness.
11. Due to overconfidence.
12. Bad working environment.
13. Because of excessive overtime duty by industrial workers.
14. Dangerous materials with which to work.
15. Lack of cleanliness.
16. Due to poor planning.