|
Heinrich’s Domino Theory explains that accidents are not usually caused by a single event. They occur through a chain of events, similar to a series of dominoes falling one after another.
The five dominoes are:
Social & Personal Factors – Fatigue, stress, lack of awareness, inadequate training or personal factors.
Unsafe Acts – Not following procedures, taking shortcuts, distraction, improper use of PPE or unsafe behaviour.
Unsafe Conditions – Poor housekeeping, defective equipment, inadequate guarding, unsafe workplace conditions or poor maintenance.
Accident – An unwanted event occurs when unsafe acts and conditions come together.
Injury / Damage – The final consequence may include injury, equipment damage, production loss or other impacts.
The Key Safety Message
We can prevent the dominoes from falling.
If we identify and control unsafe acts and unsafe conditions before an accident occurs, we can break the chain and prevent injury or damage.
What Can We Do?
Be aware: Identify hazards before starting work.
Follow procedures: Never take shortcuts.
Report & fix: Report unsafe conditions, hazards and near misses.
Look out for each other: Speak up when you see an unsafe act.
Use the right PPE: PPE is an important last line of defense.
|