Causes of injuries

Hot Work. The objective of a hot work standard is to prevent fires, explosions, and other causes of injury which might result from workplace ignition sources such as welding (qv), cutting, grinding, and use of electrically powered tools. The OSHA standards have specific requirements (36,94) for fire prevention and protection and a permit system. 

At this point, it is worth considering the importance of lipid peroxidation as a toxic mechanism in cells exposed to ozone. Scott and Lesher (7 ) proposed that ozone injures cell membranes by oxidizing unsaturated lipids. Goldstein and Balchum (8) reported that ozone reacts with unsaturated lipids to produce organic peroxides which, they suggested, poison cells. They used a thiobarbituric acid-malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) method to measure lipid peroxidation. Using this method, we could find no increase in MDA until after visible injury appeared on bean leaves ( ). We concluded that lipid peroxidation may result from ozone injury to bean leaves rather than being the cause of injury. 

There is little disagreement that a significant number of deaths and injuries are caused by firearms, although gun deaths peaked at about 40,000 in 1995 and then started to decline. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), firearms are the second leading cause of injury death in the United States although the overall homicide rate as well as the firearm injury rate have continued to decline. 

Peril Insurance terminology for risk, possible cause of injury, or event causing damage or loss. 

Claims that cases of encephalopathy followed by permanent brain injury or death were due to measles immunization, submitted to the US National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, have been reviewed (SED-13, 920) (18). A total of 403 claims of encephalopathy and/or seizure disorders after measles, measles-rubella, measles-mumps-rubella, mumps, or rubella immunization were identified during the period 1970-93. The medical records of these cases were reviewed by physicians in the compensation program to determine, if possible, the cause of injury and the classification of the findings. The inclusion criteria established by the compensation program were met by... 

Thorough and effective analyses of workplace incidents are critical components of a comprehensive safety management system. Yet, many incident analysis processes (i.e., accident investigations) fall short. They frequently fail to identify and resolve the real root causes of injuries, process incidents and near misses. Because the true root causes of incidents are within the system, the system must change to prevent the incident from happening again. 

Usually single scene Usually one substance Known or identified substance Not intended to cause harm Identifiable source and quantity Information available Site-specific safety plans in place Limited affected area0 Limited consequential disruption Generally few casualties0 Chemical effects likely to be main cause of injury... 

The excessive production of such radicals will initiate a cascade of oxidation-reduction reactions (oxidative stress) that finally may lead to the loss of cellular integrity. The causes of injury considered include increased cytosolic calcium levels, ATP depletion, thiol oxidation, lipid peroxidation, DNA damage and critical damage to the organelles - that is, the mitochondria and lysosomes. 

A study of the cause of injuries in 50,000 major and minor industrial injury cases reveals that 30 per cent are due to faulty instruction, 22 per cent to inattention, 14 per cent to unsafe practice, and 12 per cent to poorv, discipline, whereas 12 per cent are due to inability, physical and mentah unfitness of the employee, and only 10 per cent to mechanical hazards. 

Kimelberg, H.K. (2005) Astrocytic swelling in cerebral ischemia as a possible cause of injury and target for therapy. GUa, 50 389-397. 

Unfortunately, the debate about whether unsafe acts or unsafe conditions cause the majority of injuries persists. No evidence supports claims that unsafe acts predominate as causes of injuries. 

In one instance, a very old can of sodium was determined by visual inspection to have completely reacted to form sodium hydroxide, and the worker decided to flush it with water to dispose of the residue. The bottom 2 inches were still sodium metal and consequently the can exploded. The only entrance to the laboratory was blocked by an ensuing fire so that the occupants had to escape through windows. Fortunately, they were on the first floor and the windows were not blocked. The latter point is worth noting because shortly before this incident, bars over the windows to prevent break-ins had been removed at the insistence of the organization s safety department. Unsubstantiated assumptions or misplaced priorities are a major cause of injuries. 

Two particular points emerge from this brief summary. First, it is possible to think about injury reduction without even mentioning the term error. Second, while sophisticated models of the causes of injury can be built, problems can sometimes be circumvented simply by intervening at a critical point in the causal chain ... 

The act or omission amounting to want of ordinary care on the part of a complaining party, which, concurring with the defendant s negligence, is the proximate cause of injury. This is different from assumption of risk, which exists where no fault for injury rests with the plaintiff, but where the plaintiff assumes the consequences of injury occurring through the fault of the defendant, a third person, or through the fault of no one. 

The cause that originates and sets in motion a chain of causation through other causes to the result. The cause of injury is attached to legal liability. The use of this term is not as popular as proximate cause. 

A type of negligence in which a professional, under a duty to act, fails to follow generally accepted professional standards, and that breach of duty is the cause of injury to a plaintiff who suffers damages. It is committed by a professional or the professional s subordinates or agents on behalf of a client or patient and causes damages to the client or patient. Management of Change (MOC)... 

It is estimated that office workers sustain 76,000 fractures, dislocations, sprains, strains, and contusions each year. In office areas, trips and falls are the number one cause of injury. Office workers are also injured as a result of foreign substances in the eye, spilled hot liquids, burns from fire, and electric shock. The office may also contain hazards such as poor lighting, noise, poorly designed furniture and equipment, and machines that emit noxious gases and fumes. Even the nature of office work itself has produced a whole host of stress-related symptoms and musculoskeletal strains. 

As we will discuss in greater detail in the next chapter WC insurance does not completely cover all work-related disabilities. A worker must demonstrate that an injury resulted from work activities to receive benefits. In many instances the actual cause of injury is elusive. Even if... 

Causes of injuries — especially differences among trigger types. 

With the spread of the industrial revolution, the toU for workers rose rapidly. The toU claimed human lives and caused injuries, medical expenses, and lost income. The men, women, and children employed in factories faced many dangers. Society found these results unacceptable and pushed for reform to make jobs safer. They also sought to place at least some burden on employers to pay for the losses workers experienced. However, common law defenses thwarted those efforts while protecting employers. If a worker wanted to get compensation or indemnity under common law, the worker had to sue the employer. The worker had to prove that the employer s negligence was the sole cause of injury. The employee carried virtually aU the risks in employment. Furthermore, an attempt to win compensation through a lawsuit was likely to result in loss of employment or create iU wdl. 

There are episodes in which disgruntled workers or terrorists commit sabotage that leads to emergencies. A growing cause of injury and death at work involves workplace violence. Typically, employees or former employees attack or kill other employees or supervisors. Some of the cases involve depression and other mental illnesses unknown to employers. See Case 29-4. 

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