What is a Safety Incident?

Definition of an Incident

An incident is an unplanned event that disrupts normal work. It may cause harm or pose a risk to people, property, or the environment. Unlike an accident, an incident does not always result in injury or damage.

What is the Difference Between a Safety Incident and an Accident?

• A safety incident refers to an unplanned event that may or may not result in injury or damage. For example, a worker slipping on a wet floor but regaining balance without being injured is an incident. Near misses and unsafe conditions fall under this category

• An accident, however, results in tangible injury, damage, or harm. Using the same example, if the worker falls and injures themselves, it escalates from an incident to an accident​​.

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Incidents Are More Common Than Accidents

For every accident, there are often many incidents. The Accident Pyramid also known as Heinrich's triangle or Bird's triangle suggests that for every fatal accident, there are:

• 10 serious accidents
• 30 minor accident
• 600 near misses or incidents
• many more unsafe behaviours or conditions ( which are often unreported)​​.

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What are the Three Types of Accidents?

1. Minor Accidents: Injuries that require basic first aid, like small cuts or bruises.
2. Major Accidents (or serious): Severe injuries requiring hospitalisation or long-term care, such as fractures or burns.
3. Fatal Accidents: Incidents leading to the loss of life​​.

What is the Difference Between a Safety Hazard and an Accident?

• A safety hazard is a condition or situation with the potential to cause harm (e.g., an exposed wire or slippery floor).
• An accident occurs when this hazard interacts with human error or another variables, and results in injury or damage​​.

Why Does Understanding Safety Incidents Matter?

• Incident management helps organisations reduce risks, improve workplace culture, and achieve compliance with safety regulations.
• Tools such as incident reporting apps and tracking systems empower businesses to stay proactive, ensuring long-term sustainability and safety excellence​​.

How YOUFactors Can Help Reduce Incidents

YOUFactors is a digital companion designed to help individuals and organisations prevent incidents and accidents. By focusing on behavioural change and habit-building, YOUFactors supports teams to create safer work environments through:

1. Error Anticipation: Employees are trained to identify potential risks and mitigate errors before they happen, significantly reducing the likelihood of incidents​​.
2. Nudge Learning: Short, interactive modules delivered through digital nudges reinforce safety behaviours and keep workers focused on risk reduction​​.
3. State Monitoring: The "Rate-Your-State" tool helps workers assess their physical and mental readiness, ensuring they are alert and prepared to work safely​​.
4. Close-Call Analysis: By reviewing near-misses, YOUFactors encourages reflection and learning, enabling teams to address risks proactively​.
5. Social Sharing and Collaboration: The platform fosters a supportive culture by allowing team members to share safety insights, best practices, and success stories​​.

With YOUFactors, organisations can go beyond traditional safety approaches, building a resilient safety culture that empowers employees to take ownership of their safety behaviours at work and beyond.

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