accident or incident?

[celerycelery]

When RM are concerned whats the difference between an accident and an incident when slipping on ice? Im guessing an incident is blameworthy and its usually us who are to blame whereas an accident is just that.

[Himaggen]

An incident cannot be compared to an accident, all accidents are incidents.

Generally there are two forms of incidents:

1. near misses
2. accidents

The rule of thumb is that it is an accident if injury or damage occurs, otherwise it's a near miss.

Put simply if you slipped on ice, you were not injured and nothing was damaged, then it's a near miss incident. Of course it should still be entered into the near miss log book.

[gerardy]

I think RM dont have to record the number of incidents, but do have to record the number of accidents (legal thing I think)

[Bourne Wasted]

Accident: An event that results in injury or ill health, including sickness and absences

Incidents: a near miss.. Events that have the potentials to cause injury or ill health and may cause damage to property, personal effects, work in progress.

All near misses SHOULD be reported as its claimed that approximately 1 in 10 near misses results in an minor accident.

Would it be fair to say a slip or fall would be a foreseeable in the snow and ice? To try and blame the postman would be a complete copout, they would not only have to show they've carried out every possible procedure, risk assessments, briefing, Severe Weather Operation Plan to try and minimise or reduce the risks and accidents, but prove you were not taking reasonable care of yourself or co-operating with the RM rules and regulations!!

[Himaggen]

It is not a statutory requirement to report on near misses, but Royal Mail does log them for Safety Management purposes. The data in it is used to identify weaknesses in procedures for Risk Assessment purposes and to help prevent future accidents. After all a near miss suggests that it very nearly was an accident which in turn has a cost, not just a financial one, to the Company, its employees or anyone affected by their actions. It's no good simply saying that, "one day someone's going to get killed there", then do nothing until they are!

[celerycelery]

It did result in slight injury and soreness the following day but not enough to be off work so it must be classed as an accident i reckon.

[Himaggen]

If it did result in an injury of any kind then your Manager cannot tell you it was a near miss and must, as required by law, enter it into the accident book, (now electronically known as ERICA).

The fact that this report will take some time, (both yours and theirs), then trigger the necessity of the Manager completing a Managers Accident Report, (a copy of which will be sent up to RM's Regional Safety Team). Add to that the accident will be added to the accident statistics for your Office and you can see the reason why your being told it is not an accident.

[keithposty]

LETS CLEAR THIS UP SHALL WE


i) An accident

The HSE define an accident as “any unplanned event that resulted in injury or ill health of people, or damage or loss to property, plant, materials or the environment or a loss of business opportunity”.

Example: A window cleaner dropping a bucket from a height, which caused injury to a person underneath, would be classed as an accident.


(ii) A “near-miss” incident

A “near-miss” incident can be defined as, “any event, which under slightly different circumstances, may have resulted in injury or ill health of people, or damage or loss to property, plant, materials or the environment or a loss of business opportunity”.

Example: A window cleaner dropping a bucket from a height, which just missed a person standing underneath, would be classed as a “near-miss” incident. This incident did not cause an injury to a person but, under slightly different circumstances (the person standing nearer to the contact point) the person may have been injured.

i have had enough of royal mail downgrading accidents to incidents

this is from the HSE to ram down your doms throat for clarification