Is there a connection between minor and major potential incidents? Do non-SIFs illuminate the potential for SIFs?
Well…maybe. Check out my pod episodes # and # for two studies which explored this question.
PS. More pods focusing on different SIF studies have been recorded, so make sure to subscribe on Spotify/Apple, and join my Safe AF LinkedIn group (links in comments).
Based on these studies and as discussed in the pods:
· Image 1: Bellamy analysed >23k serious reported Dutch accidents, finding there was a connection between minor and major incidents
· Quoting Bellamy, “There is no one fatal accident barrier failure cause which has not also occurred in non-fatal accidents”
· However, this relationship existed only within the same accident scenarios, hence, the hazard is the connection
· For instance, ‘minor’ slips and trips become fatal when within a scenario of working at heights
· Image 2: Bayona et al. via an expert panel, reviewed 38 incidents including 13 SIFs, 13 low severity incidents, and 12 potential SIFs
· These findings found there was a difference in that sample, where SIFs and PSIFs all had an absence of a direct control, and/or some type of non-present or followed work plan
Lots more to be explored here, so keen an eye out for future pods, and follow links in the comments.
[** PS. And yes, there are certain limitations and nuances of relying on incidents and investigations, particularly because they reflect the investigator’s and analysts worldviews on causality…but, whatever]
Shout me a coffee (one-off or monthly recurring)
Refs:
Image 1: Bellamy, L. J. (2015). Exploring the relationship between major hazard, fatal and non-fatal accidents through outcomes and causes. Safety Science, 71, 93-103.
Image 2: Bayona, A., Hallowell, M. R., & Bhandari, S. (2024). The things that hurt people are not the same as the things that kill people: Key differences in the proximal causes of low-and high-severity construction injuries. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 150(8), 04024089.
Links:
Safe AF ep 2: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Wx9bH1XweAgXP6yGYmAP1?si=eEAqCvEZRDqgsXayM9xQhA
Safe AF ep 4: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4776MLT0rBKorfKvmuirSM?si=DnWgTLtzQFOtNdgpGPbV2w
Safe AF LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14717868/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_feed%3B%2B81VFVKvTIOs8KoDkgSqEg%3D%3D
SafetyInsights.org 