Theories energy release

Energy-Related Accident Causation Theories Energy Release Theory 

Haddon and Johnson focus on energy as the source of the hazard. 

Identifying energy sources and preventing or minimizing exposures 

Incidents include near misses and accidents. Accidents result in loss. Near misses result in no loss. The purpose of any incident investigation is to determine cause(s). As already mentioned, the circumstances differentiating a near miss from a loss-producing incident or accident may be merely a matter of chance therefore, all incidents can be considered candidates for investigation, since correcting the contributing circumstances may help prevent future incidents. 

Incident investigation is concerned with fact-finding, not faultfinding. During the accident investigation, it is important to find out answers to the questions who, what, where, when, why, and how. Who questions include  

---

Dr. William Haddon, who was the first Director of the National Highway Safety Bureau, conceived the energy release theory. Its concept is that unwanted transfers of energy can be harmful (and wasteful) and that a systematic approach to limiting their possibility should be taken. 

One is the Air Force System Safety Handbook, a revision of which was published in July 2000. It is an adaptation of Standard Practice for System Safety, Department of Defense, known as MIL-STD-882D, 2000. And the second is William J. Haddon s energy release theory as set forth in his papers, such as The Prevention of Accidents and On the Escape of Tigers An Ecological Note. ... 

Haddon s energy release theory proposes that quantities of energy, means of energy transfer, and rates of transfer are related to the types of incidents that occur, the probability of their occurrence, and the severity of their outcomes. Haddon also addressed the significance of avoiding unwanted exposures to harmful environments. Designing to avoid... 

One must consider many factors when selecting and implementing controls for hazards. Risk, cost, type and severity of loss, practicality and not introducing additional hazards are all important. For type of loss, the first priority is to protect people and prevent loss of human life. Protection of property, environments, and operations follows. Haddon s energy release theory and other schemes and models (see Chapter 3) provide ideas for dealing with these priorities. Some additional models that help recognize hazards and plan for controls occur later in this chapter. 

Preface This checklist begins with a preface that brings attention to Haddon s unwanted energy release theory, which modified and extended for workplace use, is this For all injuries or illnesses, an unwanted and harmful transfer of energy or exposure to a harmful environment is a factor. 

Discusses Haddon s energy release theory and the concepts on which the Management Oversight and Risk Tree (MORT) is based. 

EM 385-1-1, Safety and health requirements manual. (2014). US Army Corps of engineers. Public Domain. Retrieved from http //l.usa.gov/lFu8Yfo Energy Release Theory, (n.d.). International Risk Management Institute, Inc. (IRMI). 

---