What are the Causes of Industrial Accidents? – Answered!

Article shared by Smriti Chand

Industrial accidents are the result of a combination of factors.
According to safety experts accidents normally occur due to following factors:
1. Unsafe working conditions.
2. Unsafe activities of workers

3. Other causes.

All these causes have been discussed as follows:

1. Unsafe working conditions:

These causes are associated with defective plants, equipment, tool materials etc.

(a) Defective equipment/ machines.

(b) Complicated procedure of performing a job.

(c) Inadequate safety devices.

(d) Wrong and faulty layout of the production unit.

(e) Improper or insufficient light.

(f) Improper ventilation

(g) Improperly guarded equipment.

2. Unsafe activities of workers:

These activities may be the result of inexperience, deficiency of knowledge, inadequate training etc.

These acts include:

(a) Casual behaviour of workers.

(b) Lack of interest and indifferent attitude of workers towards work.

(c) Wrong placement of workers.

(d) Failure to adopt and obey safety measures.

(e) Lack of experience for the job given.

(f) Fear of supervisory staff leading to consciousness.

(g) Using intoxicants while working

(h) Longer hours of continuous work without rest pause.

3. Other causes:

Accidents may also be caused by factors not directly related to conditions and facts.

Such factors may include the followings:

(a) There are more accidents during night shift than during day shift.

(b) Untrained or less trained workers are more prone to accident than experienced workers.

(c) Women employees have better safety records than their male counterparts.

(d) Persons working under any kind of stress (emotional, family problems, threat of losing a job) have record of more accidents than those who do not.