UNSAFE ACT: CONCEPT, EXAMPLES AND WAYS TO PREVENT THEM - JOB - 2024

An unsafe act refers to a scene starring a worker in which he endangers his own safety or that of the people who work around him. It is the human part of workplace accidents.

It is very important for companies to try to minimize unsafe acts. According to studies carried out every year, more than 80% of workplace accidents occur due to these actions.

Source: NAVFAC, via Wikimedia Commons.

There are many reasons why unsafe practices occur in the workplace. In some cases, it is the employer's fault for providing poor training, poor working conditions or not having the necessary supervision.

But there are also unsafe acts that are the responsibility of the employee. These actions occur due to excessive trust, due to the need to comply with demanding deadlines, due to physical problems or the presence of prohibited substances.

Unsafe act concept

Unsafe acts are considered errors or deficiencies that one or more people commit when carrying out a certain task. The problem with these errors is that they can in turn cause accidents.

Unsafe acts are closely related to the attitudes of workers. These attitudes are not fixed as they can change over time and are defined by emotional or intellectual situations.

When a behavior generates an unsafe act, it is because it increases the chances of risk when fulfilling a certain task. The right attitudes avoid risks and are more likely to maintain safety levels in the workplace.

Unsafe acts can occur due to different actions, such as attitudes of indifference, abandonment, distraction, forgetfulness or simply due to an error when executing a certain task.

Identify unsafe acts

One of the most important aspects of good job performance is being able to identify unsafe acts. This previous work serves to create tools that help prevent accidents and optimize work development.

Initially, it is necessary to identify if the workers of a company have any type of behavior that may cause risks. As a general rule, these behaviors are considered reckless and are against labor regulations.

It is important to define observation techniques to be able to study and identify attitudes that are out of the usual pattern. Observation should not be confused with surveillance or periodic inspections. The first is to verify that the jobs are safe.

Awareness of insecurity

Additionally, it is vital to admit and be aware that unsafe acts can occur in work environments. Once this is understood, it is easier to identify the two types of behaviors that are involved in their appearance.

On the one hand, unsafe acts may occur unconsciously. In this case, the worker does not appreciate the risks or may have a disparity of opinion with the company regarding the actions that are considered risky or safe.

The other type of behavior has to do with unsafe acts that occur as a result of conscious actions on the part of the worker. In this case, the difference is that the employee is able to distinguish that there is a danger, but still decides to act without following the appropriate security measures for the case.

It is also important to recognize the level of unfamiliarity an employee may have. Unsafe acts can be caused by two types of situations. In one, the worker does not identify the risk in the same way as his superiors.

In this case there is a clash of criteria between the employee and the company. There is no agreement as to the magnitude of the hazards or the estimation of the probability of an accident occurring.

On the other hand, there are workers who act in the expected way, but not precisely because they know the risks in their work. There are cases in which employees simply have a behavior because it is the one that they are told that it is appropriate, but for that reason they fail to identify the dangers around them.

Examples

Unsafe acts can be observed at different levels of a company. It all depends on the knowledge and behavior of the employees, although the intensity of the risks also differs according to the context in which the worker is.

The simplest and most common examples of unsafe acts can be observed when a worker manipulates work equipment without the respective authorization of his superiors. The lack of permission can be due to multiple reasons, such as the lack of preparation of the employee, the ignorance of some breakdown or simply the lack of confidence.

Hazards also increase when workers increase their work rate. Usually this occurs because of wanting to meet a goal faster or for the simple reason of completing the assignment earlier than expected and that can lead to unsafe acts.

It is also very common for employees not to use the protection tools that have been designed for their work. Many times this occurs due to discomfort or simply due to little habit of using extra implements or overconfidence.

It may happen that employees expose themselves to dangerous situations by default. Another problem is when the risks involved in certain situations were never communicated to them.

Lack of organization also increases the likelihood of accidents occurring at work sites. It can be something as simple as leaving the implements in unspecified places or simply having garbage or waste that at any time can hinder the tasks.

Following the same line, maintenance is vital to enjoy a good work environment. Lack of care can lead to more rapid deterioration of tools or their malfunction.

Ways to prevent unsafe acts

It seems easy to prevent unsafe acts from occurring on the job site, but this depends on many factors. The most important thing is to try to minimize them by correctly identifying the possible dangers that may occur.

Therefore, the role of the company is vital in reducing or avoiding dangerous situations. For this it is important to do good interviews and selections of workers. Training is also relevant and must be permanent.

Companies often choose to incentivize their teams with prizes. They promote discipline in different ways and make propaganda to remember the rules, reinforce decision-making aimed at safety, both individually and in groups.

Act against unsafe acts

Despite all the preventive measures that can be adopted, there is always a percentage, no matter how small, of unsafe acts that can occur in a work environment.

It is also very important to know the correct way to act when faced with a dangerous or risky situation. The goal should be to stop this danger or minimize its damage.

In risky situations, try to remain calm. To do this, we must also remember that the language used must be consistent with physical actions.

When an unsafe act is detected, the worker must be told what happened and its failures. You can work together to determine if there is a better way to act in the future when similar situations occur.

Involving workers is a good way to change their behavior. You may be asked for suggestions, explaining your experience and your motivations.

When it is not possible to change the way of acting of a worker, it is necessary to establish norms or punishments for their incorrect behavior.

References

1. Chinchilla Sibaja, R. (2002). Health and Safety at Work. San José, Costa Rica: EUNED.
2. Dessler, G. (1988). Personnel management. London: Prentice-Hall International.
3. Mertens, L., & Falcón, M. (2011). Self-manage safety and health at work. Montevideo: Cinterfor / ILO.
4. Ramírez Cavassa, C. (2015). Industrial Security. Mexico, DF: Limusa.
5. Rodellar Lisa, A. (2009). Health and safety at work. Barcelona: Marcombo.