7 essential safety terminologies that you should know about Industrial Safety

7 essential safety terminologies that you should know about Industrial Safety

Hello friends,

Like any other industry, industrial safety has its own set of terminologies that are used practically daily. As an industrial employee, you should be aware of these terminologies.

So, let’s started and understand the meaning of each of these: 

1. Near miss

A Near Miss is an unplanned potential significant event that did not result in illness, injury or damage – but had the potential to do so. Only a fortunate break within the chain of events prevented an injury, fatality, illness, or damage at the time; in other words, a miss that was nonetheless very near.

OSHA defines a near miss as incidents “in which a worker might have been hurt if the circumstances had been slightly different.”

There are two main types of near-miss incidents — unsafe acts and unsafe conditions.

2. Unsafe Act 

“The unsafe act could be a violation of an established safe practice which could permit the occurrence of an accident.”

Performance of a task that’s conducted in a manner that may threaten the health and/or safety of workers. For example:

·         Lack of or improper use of PPE. 

·         Failure to tag out/lockout. 

·         Operating equipment at an unsafe speed. 

·         Failure to warn people within the area of work activity.

·         Bypass or removal of safety devices. 

·         Using defective equipment. 

·         Use of tools apart from their intended purpose. 

·         Working in hazardous locations without adequate protection or warning. 

·         Improper repair of equipment.  

3. Unsafe Condition 

“The unsafe condition is a hazardous physical state or circumstance which could directly permit the occurrence of an accident.”

A condition in the workplace that is probable to cause property damage or injury. For example:

·         Defective tools, equipment, or supplies. 

·         Inadequate supports or guards. 

·         Inadequate warning systems. 

·         Fire and explosion hazards. 

·         Poor housekeeping. 

·         Uneven walking surfaces. 

·         Excessive noise. 

·         Poor ventilation.

4. Incident

Any unintended event, including operating errors, equipment failures, initiating events, accident precursors, near misses or other mishaps, or unauthorized act, malicious or non-malicious, the consequences or potential consequences of which are not negligible from the point of view of protection and safety.

In short, we can say that incidents are, “an unintended event that may result in property damage, but does not result in an injury or illness.”

 

5. Accident

Accidents are defined as, “an unexpected event which causes property damage, injury or illness to an employee.”

"An accident is a separate, identifiable, unintended incident, which causes physical injury”

Basically, by definition, 

"All accidents are incidents, but not all incidents are accidents."

 

6. Hazard

Hazard is any source of potential damage, harm, or adverse health effects on something or someone.

Basically, a hazard is something that can cause harm.

 7. Risk

A risk is a chance that someone or something could be harmed or damaged by that hazard.

        every organization or industry faces both hazards and risks. Most of the time the words ‘hazard’ and ‘risk’ are interchanged. But a hazard and a risk are not the same things. A hazard is something that can cause harm and A risk is a chance that any hazard will actually cause somebody harm.      

    Hazards only become risks when there is exposure. Sharks are a hazard. But if I never go near the ocean, I have no exposure to sharks and face no risk of a shark attack.