The Evolutionary Path of Danger: Unsafe Conditions→Unsafe Acts→Near Misses→Accidents

In daily life, safety hazards are everywhere. In the face of potential safety hazards, how should we prevent them from happening? First, we need to realize that the formation of a danger often has an evolutionary path. Only by understanding this evolutionary path of danger, we can make timely and accurate responses and measures in the face of potential dangers. So, what is it?

The path of a danger often goes through four stages of evolution, that is:
unsafe conditions → unsafe acts → near misses → accidents

• Unsafe Conditions

Unsafe conditions or risk environments have formed. For example, equipment is unlocked and someone is near the operating interface.

• Unsafe Acts

Someone engages in unsafe operations, such as approaching unlocked equipment.

• Near Misses

A kind of “almost failure” event occurs, such as the equipment starting accidentally but causing no actual harm. These events remind us of the need for improvement.

• Accidents

Accidents will ultimately occur when unsafe conditions and behaviors are not corrected, resulting in personal injury or losses.

Here are 12 examples showing the evolutionary paths of dangers:

(1) The Axe and The Toes

(2) The Slippery Floor

(3) The Electrical Shock

(4) The Waitress and The Bag

(5) The Weak Rope

(6) Trolley on the Loose

(7) The Misplaced Handle

(8) The Broken Ladder

(9) The Shelf and The Burden

(10) The Unsecured Tool

(11) The Flying Claw

(12) The Rusty Lifting Gear

This path shows that to reduce the likelihood of accidents, we should focus on:

1) Identify and correct unsafe conditions

2) Stop unsafe behaviors and train to raise safety awareness

3) Analyze the causes of near misses and strengthen preventive measures

4) Ensure safety requirements and procedures are implemented strictly

In summary, this reflects that accidents do not happen suddenly, but evolve. By monitoring and improving unsafe conditions and behaviors, as well as timely handling near misses, it helps reduce the risk of eventual accidents.