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Chapter 30 ACCIDENTS

What is an accident?

An accident is sometimes defined as an unplanned and uncontrolled event which has led to or could have led to an injury to persons, damage to plant or other loss.

The basic problem is attitude

'Just let me get on with my work!'

'I work on bonus!'

'REAL MEN don't need Protective equipment!'

'I don't know how that accident happened!'

Accidents don't happen - Accidents are caused basically because of a failure of one or more of the 4 basic foundations of Health & Safety

Premises - People - Practices - Plant

If we plan and organise ourselves properly accidents are unlikely to happen.

Research has shown that there is a relationship between major accidents/ minor accidents and 'no injury' accidents.

If you trip and fall over a rake - the accident occurred even if there was no injury. If one of the young greenkeepers fall out of a trailer - the accident occurred even if there was no injury. If we could find out about all the 'no injury' accidents and identify their causes then we would be able to control all accidents.

To do that we must RECORD ALL ACCIDENTS. Remember the idea here is not to apportion blame, it is to establish why such a thing happened and prevent it happening in the future.

There are basically two places you should have records of accidents.

• You should keep a note of all usage of your First Aid Box - if you do this, it will give you a note of some of the TRIVIAL ACCIDENTS (cuts & abrasions) that otherwise you would not hear about.

• You should have an Accident Book to record all MINOR ACCIDENTS. Accident books are available from your local stationary supplier or HMSO.

Accidents Books should AT LEAST record:

1. DATE
2. TIME
3. NAME OF INJURED PERSON
4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT
5. ACTION TAKEN
6. BY WHOM ACTION TAKEN
7. RESULT

..

If we can analyse all accidents no matter how trivial - we may be able to identify the problem before the serious accident occurs.

If a Serious Accident occurs, the accident must be reported to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) or Local Environmental Health Office (EHO) immediately or at least within 5 days See HSE RIDDOR WEBSITE

What is a serious accident?

A Serious Accident is one that comes under RIDDOR

REPORTING OF INJURIES, DISEASES AND DANGEROUS OCCURRENCES REGULATIONS 1985 - RIDDOR

Serious accidents under this legislation are ACCIDENTS involving

• death
• fracture of skull, spine or pelvis
• Fracture of bone in arm or wrist (not the hand)
• Fracture of bone in leg or ankle (not the foot)
• Amputation of hand, foot, finger, thumb or toe.
• Loss of sight in one eye
• any injury which results in hospitalisation for more than 24 hours
• Any injury which results in absence from work for more than 3 days

INCIDENTS or DANGEROUS OCCURRENCES

• Collapse of a scaffold over 5 metres high
• the collapse of a floor or wall at a workplace.

HSE or EHO will arrange to come to the workplace to examine it and interview all participants. They will wish to see your safety policy/ safe working practices / details of training - basically to analyse why the accident has occurred and what means have been brought to bear to ensure it will not recur.

ALCOHOL AND DRUGS

People affected by alcohol or drugs at work are a hazard to themselves and others. This is especially true for Groundsmen and Greenkeepers. They are working precision equipment and it is essential that they are in full control at all times.

Prescribed Drugs and over-the-counter drugs and medicines can cause drowsiness and may affect those operating equipment. Make sure any of your workers using these, reads the label properly, and tells you of any problems.

Do you have a policy for this in your workplace?

CONTROL OF RISKS and

PREVENT ACCIDENTS

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