Here is my opinion:
First the goal is never to have a failure or an "accident". An accident / incident by definition is a failure but is the failure preventable?
Over long periods of time the goal of ZERO will never be met. Every system has opportunities for failures. Do you know of a 100% error free system or process that can NEVER fail? Impossible? 100% forever?
98% of all injuries are preventable. 2% are related to acts of God genetics and ergonomics (personal health). The 60 year old man who's body is worn out from poor wellness over weight and abusive life styles then claims his knees are worn out from walking on cement floors at work (not the fact that he is 100+ Lbs. over weight). 100% preventable but under the control of the employer?
So, the real questions are these. Prior to occurance of an incident did the organization take all reasonable steps to predict and prevent the incident? This 20+ year safety pro's hair on the back of my neck gets stiff when I hear a manager say "I knew that was going to happen sooner or latter" That is my opportunity for a serious heart to heart accountablitity discussion. "You are stating the incidnet was predictable "you saw it comming" and you did NOTHING more than wait and watch it happen? :mg:
A targetted reduction in severity and incidents frequency then key process metrics is more achievable than ZERO incidnets. Talk in the terms of preventable and predictable.
In the pure form every accident is preventable by avoudance - but the cold truth is every activity has some risk.
Most importantly; Humans make errors. Everyone. So any system that relies on a human to make a choice or take actions is open to error. (I have not met anyone who wanted to be injured or in pain)
Study 9/11 was the event predicatable? preventable?
You can not stop a sucidal bomber from killing themselves. You can set up barriers and reduce the severity of the incident to others. but they will kill themsleves and cause damage. Predicatable? Preventable?
Hope this helps?
Ken
First the goal is never to have a failure or an "accident". An accident / incident by definition is a failure but is the failure preventable?
Over long periods of time the goal of ZERO will never be met. Every system has opportunities for failures. Do you know of a 100% error free system or process that can NEVER fail? Impossible? 100% forever?
98% of all injuries are preventable. 2% are related to acts of God genetics and ergonomics (personal health). The 60 year old man who's body is worn out from poor wellness over weight and abusive life styles then claims his knees are worn out from walking on cement floors at work (not the fact that he is 100+ Lbs. over weight). 100% preventable but under the control of the employer?
So, the real questions are these. Prior to occurance of an incident did the organization take all reasonable steps to predict and prevent the incident? This 20+ year safety pro's hair on the back of my neck gets stiff when I hear a manager say "I knew that was going to happen sooner or latter" That is my opportunity for a serious heart to heart accountablitity discussion. "You are stating the incidnet was predictable "you saw it comming" and you did NOTHING more than wait and watch it happen? :mg:
A targetted reduction in severity and incidents frequency then key process metrics is more achievable than ZERO incidnets. Talk in the terms of preventable and predictable.
In the pure form every accident is preventable by avoudance - but the cold truth is every activity has some risk.
Most importantly; Humans make errors. Everyone. So any system that relies on a human to make a choice or take actions is open to error. (I have not met anyone who wanted to be injured or in pain)
Study 9/11 was the event predicatable? preventable?
You can not stop a sucidal bomber from killing themselves. You can set up barriers and reduce the severity of the incident to others. but they will kill themsleves and cause damage. Predicatable? Preventable?
Hope this helps?
Ken
Hope to see more of you here, ayuh!