Dear All,
How can we define these two terms - Incident and Accident? How are they different from each other? Please come forward with your views so that we can understand them in detail.
With regards,
Dipil Kumar V
From India
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730How can we define these two terms - Incident and Accident? How are they different from each other? Please come forward with your views so that we can understand them in detail.
With regards,
Dipil Kumar V
From India
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In case of an incident, there is no injury to a person but there may be property damage. In case of an accident, there is an injury to a person and there may be property damage. For example, slipping due to stepping on banana leaves can lead to an incident where there is slipping but no injury, or an accident where there is slipping and an injury to a body part.
Regards,
Shailesh Mistry
Email: shailesh.mann09@gmail.com
Contact: 09898402719
From India, Pune
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Regards,
Shailesh Mistry
Email: shailesh.mann09@gmail.com
Contact: 09898402719
From India, Pune
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It's something similar to 'Cause' and 'Effect'. An incident can be termed as an event that is brought to notice during a normal course of action, and an accident can be termed as an event that alters the normal course of action.
From India, Mumbai
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From India, Mumbai
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Dear Dilip,
As per the previous definitions of OHSAS 18001, the term accident is defined as harm or loss to an individual or property. However, as per the definitions of 18001:2007, the term accident is re-defined as an incident. An incident may be an accident or a near-miss. The term accident is no longer used in organizations that are ISO 18001 certified.
Thanks.
From India, Surat
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As per the previous definitions of OHSAS 18001, the term accident is defined as harm or loss to an individual or property. However, as per the definitions of 18001:2007, the term accident is re-defined as an incident. An incident may be an accident or a near-miss. The term accident is no longer used in organizations that are ISO 18001 certified.
Thanks.
From India, Surat
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Dear Friends,
This is a subject of debate that has been ongoing for many years. There have been hundreds and hundreds of postings on forums filling thousands of pages. In the early days of my profession, I was also getting confused by it.
I am reproducing two of the replies received from experts before. For those who need it, I may be able to provide hundreds of opinions from eminent safety people.
My Advice: Use either word with which you feel comfortable—it does not make any difference!
1. What Matters Is Not the Words but How We Communicate Them
The recent spirited debate over Accident vs. Incident has been educational, enlightening, amusing, and entertaining. It also serves to illustrate the many differences among members of the same profession. But for me, it also illustrates how easily we get caught up in, or focus on, semantics and definitions and totally forget the key, which is effective communications! To me, neither term is effective on its own as demonstrated by this discussion.
I am a realist and as a trainer and safety consultant for more than 26 years, I have had ample time to make mistakes and learn from them. Words and terms used among safety professionals should convey specific information as clearly as possible based on a person's perception of the word rather than the textbook definition. It is of little or no consequence what the book definition of a word is. What is important is the idea or image the word conveys; what the actual understanding and interpretation is to the person receiving and processing the language.
With this understanding of communication, I would like to submit my two cents on this debate. Personally, I use both terms to clearly identify what type of situation exists as communications in any situation using either of these two terms is important! I have never heard incident or accident used in a casual conversation regarding safety! Both terms are normally used to convey a problem! Here are my feelings on the proper use of these powerful words:
Accident - Used to convey a situation in which there has been an injury involving a human. Reserving Accident to denote injuries helps save time! If I hear "Johnny has been involved in an accident," the word Accident triggers an immediate response plan involving first aid members, first aid equipment, and immediate activation of the accident response team. This term supersedes the normal delay involved in evaluating the situation to determine what actually happened.
Incident - Used to convey damage to property. No threat to human life exists. Although the same elements of response mentioned above may still be required, there is not a threat to human life. Evaluation is normally my first response to an incident. I know immediately that although it may be serious and costly, anything involved in an incident is replaceable or manageable and does not involve Loss-of-Life.
As professionals, every word we use conveys a meaning to the person receiving the information. Whether they receive the correct meaning is up to us. In addition to the words already discussed, additional words also need to convey specific information. If there is an incident involving a chemical spill, the word SPILL should be used rather than trying to parse the meaning of Accident or Incident. We do not have incidents involving fire, we have FIRE!
I would encourage everyone (myself included) to always consider not just the meaning of a word but their perception! A Rose by any other name may indeed still be a Rose, but you are going to spend a great deal of energy explaining to me why you refer to it as a visual and olfactory stimulation device! In an emergency, the proper use and understanding of language can mean the difference between life or death. Choose your words carefully!
Bob Breslin, Director
OSHA Compliance & Education
Vanguard Environmental, Inc.
2. Get Over It!
WOW. The first thing I thought when I read the comments about the "debate" between the terminology of incident and accident was "Get over it". As safety professionals, we have heard these debates before and if we have any experience, we should know that most people outside of the profession are going to use these terms to describe their incident/accident. We should be focusing on causes, proper investigations, and prevention, not what we call it. If it drives us that crazy to hear the word accident, you better bail out of the profession because you will hear that word for decades to come.
Use the words you want. I know what you mean.
Name withheld.
Regards,
Kesava Pillai
From India, Kollam
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This is a subject of debate that has been ongoing for many years. There have been hundreds and hundreds of postings on forums filling thousands of pages. In the early days of my profession, I was also getting confused by it.
I am reproducing two of the replies received from experts before. For those who need it, I may be able to provide hundreds of opinions from eminent safety people.
My Advice: Use either word with which you feel comfortable—it does not make any difference!
1. What Matters Is Not the Words but How We Communicate Them
The recent spirited debate over Accident vs. Incident has been educational, enlightening, amusing, and entertaining. It also serves to illustrate the many differences among members of the same profession. But for me, it also illustrates how easily we get caught up in, or focus on, semantics and definitions and totally forget the key, which is effective communications! To me, neither term is effective on its own as demonstrated by this discussion.
I am a realist and as a trainer and safety consultant for more than 26 years, I have had ample time to make mistakes and learn from them. Words and terms used among safety professionals should convey specific information as clearly as possible based on a person's perception of the word rather than the textbook definition. It is of little or no consequence what the book definition of a word is. What is important is the idea or image the word conveys; what the actual understanding and interpretation is to the person receiving and processing the language.
With this understanding of communication, I would like to submit my two cents on this debate. Personally, I use both terms to clearly identify what type of situation exists as communications in any situation using either of these two terms is important! I have never heard incident or accident used in a casual conversation regarding safety! Both terms are normally used to convey a problem! Here are my feelings on the proper use of these powerful words:
Accident - Used to convey a situation in which there has been an injury involving a human. Reserving Accident to denote injuries helps save time! If I hear "Johnny has been involved in an accident," the word Accident triggers an immediate response plan involving first aid members, first aid equipment, and immediate activation of the accident response team. This term supersedes the normal delay involved in evaluating the situation to determine what actually happened.
Incident - Used to convey damage to property. No threat to human life exists. Although the same elements of response mentioned above may still be required, there is not a threat to human life. Evaluation is normally my first response to an incident. I know immediately that although it may be serious and costly, anything involved in an incident is replaceable or manageable and does not involve Loss-of-Life.
As professionals, every word we use conveys a meaning to the person receiving the information. Whether they receive the correct meaning is up to us. In addition to the words already discussed, additional words also need to convey specific information. If there is an incident involving a chemical spill, the word SPILL should be used rather than trying to parse the meaning of Accident or Incident. We do not have incidents involving fire, we have FIRE!
I would encourage everyone (myself included) to always consider not just the meaning of a word but their perception! A Rose by any other name may indeed still be a Rose, but you are going to spend a great deal of energy explaining to me why you refer to it as a visual and olfactory stimulation device! In an emergency, the proper use and understanding of language can mean the difference between life or death. Choose your words carefully!
Bob Breslin, Director
OSHA Compliance & Education
Vanguard Environmental, Inc.
2. Get Over It!
WOW. The first thing I thought when I read the comments about the "debate" between the terminology of incident and accident was "Get over it". As safety professionals, we have heard these debates before and if we have any experience, we should know that most people outside of the profession are going to use these terms to describe their incident/accident. We should be focusing on causes, proper investigations, and prevention, not what we call it. If it drives us that crazy to hear the word accident, you better bail out of the profession because you will hear that word for decades to come.
Use the words you want. I know what you mean.
Name withheld.
Regards,
Kesava Pillai
From India, Kollam
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Wow !!!!!!!!!!!!
My Ex. Factory Manger always tell us in safety meeting that Safety Instructions, SOPs , Displays should be simple and understandable .
Kesava Sir : You have been always made this critical subject so simple and intersting
Thanks ... Thans ... Thanks
From India, Mumbai
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My Ex. Factory Manger always tell us in safety meeting that Safety Instructions, SOPs , Displays should be simple and understandable .
Kesava Sir : You have been always made this critical subject so simple and intersting
Thanks ... Thans ... Thanks
From India, Mumbai
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear All,
An incident is any event that could have resulted or did result in:
- Injury or illness
- Property damage
- Environmental impact
- Adverse community reaction
- Business interruption
Reference: DuPont
An accident is any unplanned, uncontrolled event that could result in personal injury or property damage, according to Heinrich's Domino Theory. Experts in the field of injury prevention avoid using the term 'accident' to describe events that cause injury to highlight the predictable and preventable nature of most injuries. However, as mentioned by Keshav Pillai, it's good to use the term 'accident' in emergencies to facilitate quick response and medical help. In written communications, it's better to use the word 'incident' rather than 'accident' as the word 'accident' creates a negative impact.
With regards,
Dipil Kumar V
From India
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
An incident is any event that could have resulted or did result in:
- Injury or illness
- Property damage
- Environmental impact
- Adverse community reaction
- Business interruption
Reference: DuPont
An accident is any unplanned, uncontrolled event that could result in personal injury or property damage, according to Heinrich's Domino Theory. Experts in the field of injury prevention avoid using the term 'accident' to describe events that cause injury to highlight the predictable and preventable nature of most injuries. However, as mentioned by Keshav Pillai, it's good to use the term 'accident' in emergencies to facilitate quick response and medical help. In written communications, it's better to use the word 'incident' rather than 'accident' as the word 'accident' creates a negative impact.
With regards,
Dipil Kumar V
From India
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