Accident prevention economic reasons

ABSTRACT Four hundred and sixty seven coal gas explosion accidents that occurred in China between the years of 1950 and 2000 were investigated through statistical methods so as to review the overall situation and provide quantitative information on coal gas explosion accidents. Statistical characteristics about accident-related factors such as space, time, gas accumulation reasons, gas grade, ignition sources, accidents categories, and accident economic loss were analyzed. Some special conclusions have been achieved. For example, most gas explosion accidents were found to have concentricity on the space-time and hazard characteristics. Such results may be helpful to prevent coal gas explosion accidents. Moreover, comments were made on APS (Accident Prevention System) and safety culture. In conclusion, countermeasures were proposed in accordance with the results of statistical studies, including the change of safety check time. 

The transfrontier impact of nuclear installations has been too readily dismissed in the past and it is now necessary to reinforce environmental monitoring and to provide the possibility of independent verification. Chernobyl has revealed the Community s inability to respond in a coordinated way to a major accident... " The action taken over foodstuff intervention levels was taken as much in an attempt to prevent economic chaos from the disruption of markets as it was to establish human health protection. Concerted action over intervention levels has fallen foul of uncertainty about dose-response patterns at low levels of radiation exposure and the different philosophies adopted in member countries about how to handle environmental pollution, in particular whether to take immediate action on a reasonable basis of presumption about effects or to delay action until certainty has been scientifically established. 

Since use of gloves can sometimes cause accidents, and the substitution of noxious products by less aggressive substances is sometimes not possible for technical or economical reasons, skin-care products play an important role in the prevention of occupational contact dermatitis. Preventive skin care at the workplace may be divided into pre-exposure protection by protective creams, removal of irritants by mild cleaning agents, and enhancement of barrier-function generation by emollients or moisturisers. More details are given in Chap. 62, Barrier Creams/Emollients,... 

Accident prevention legal, humanitarian and economic reasons for action... 

The fundamental reason for utilising the economic argument in the promotion of accident prevention is the fact that accidents cost an organisation money. However, in order to press the economic argument, knowledge is needed of the costs to the organisation of all types of accident. 

The third reason is economic. Many companies spend more on safety measures than some of their competitors and thus pay a sort of self-imposed tax. If we tell our competitors about the action we took after an accident, they may spend as much as we have done on preventing that accident from happening again. 

The HSW imposes a general duty on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all his employees. The term reasonably practicable involves balancing the cost of preventing the accident against the risk of the accident occurring. Thus, economic considerations need also to be taken into account. 

The Paper gives details of the accident rate in the construction industry from 1966-70 the number of accidents per thousand workers has reduced although the number of accidents with serious consequences has not reduced substantially. The reasons for this are explained. Computers are used to analyse the types of accident and assist in determining preventive measures to be taken. The system of building regulations and standards for construction is described this includes all the requirements for conditions of labour and welfare services for personnel. Reviews of production efficiency are made and from these new machines are developed to improve working conditions. The Paper also outlines the USSR s ninth Five-Year Economic Development Plan for 1971-75. 

IV.IO. Systems and components of sources that are related to protection or safety shall be designed, constructed, operated and maintained so as to prevent accidents, as far as possible, and in general to restrict to levels which are as low as reasonably achievable, social and economic considerations being taken into account, the magnitude and likelihood of exposure of workers and members of the public. ... 

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