Understanding Definition of HSE Incidents & Accidents in reference to various Authorities, Standards & Legal Entities

HSE Experts from around the world continue debating on categories of various HSE related lapses, incidents and accidents. The Term OSHA Recordable is being used more commonly these days to restrict reporting of significant HSE incidents between First Aid to Fatalities. However, Yet another myth remains "All Nearmisses are reportable but not to all". Organizations often get confused while declaring a particular incident as just a nearmiss or something else. In my view what happened? may not be enough to declare the category of a safety incident, "THE CONTEXT" is very important. An unexpected oil spill is an event, if it spilled into containment from where it is recoverable some people will not call it an incident even. However, few might explain that despite recovery some oil must not have been recovered (some lost as fumes or some that stayed stuck with the wall) so it should be an incident. Lets suppose there was no containment and there was neautralization basin, then what? And even if there was nothing as engineering control against such spill and absorbant or portable containment barriers were used? the losses would be different. There may not have been any harm to human but soil contamination might have taken course. Shouldnt it be an accident.

With all those queries and concerns here are definitions of incidents and accidents from 20 different accredited authorities whose verdict is considered as law in Pakistan on Safety.

1. ??????? Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

a.?????????????? Definition of Incident: OSHA refers to an incident as an unplanned event that does not result in injury but has the potential to do so, also known as a "near miss."

b.?????????????? Definition of Accident: OSHA defines an accident as an unplanned event that results in personal injury, illness, or property damage.

c.??????????????? Reference: OSHA General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1), Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

2. ??????? National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

a.?????????????? Definition of Incident: NFPA views an incident as any event where safety measures were required to prevent potential harm, including fire alarms, smoke, or other emergency responses.

b.?????????????? Definition of Accident: An accident, according to NFPA, is an unintentional event that causes harm to individuals or damage to property, particularly in cases related to fires, hazardous materials, or emergency medical situations.

c.??????????????? Reference: NFPA 99 (Healthcare Facilities Code) and NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code).

3. ??????? Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

a.?????????????? Definition of Incident: The HSE defines an incident as an undesired event that could potentially cause harm. This includes near-miss situations where no injury occurs.

b.?????????????? Definition of Accident: An accident is defined as an undesired event resulting in physical injury or damage, often due to inadequate controls or hazards.

c.??????????????? Reference: HSE guidelines for Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).

4. ??????? NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety & Health) UK

a.?????????????? Definition of Incident: NEBOSH defines an incident as an event that could have led to injury or illness but didn’t.

b.?????????????? Definition of Accident: NEBOSH defines an accident as an unplanned event that results in an injury, illness, or property damage.

c.??????????????? Reference: NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, Element 4 (Investigating Incidents).

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5. ??????? IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health)

a.?????????????? Definition of Incident: IOSH defines an incident as a workplace event that may or may not result in injury or damage, including near misses.

b.?????????????? Definition of Accident: An accident is described as an unplanned and unwanted event that results in harm or injury.

c.??????????????? Reference: IOSH’s Managing Safely Course Materials.

6. ??????? Factories Act, 1934 (Pakistan)

a.?????????????? Definition of Incident: The Factories Act considers incidents as any unplanned events that have the potential to cause injury.

b.?????????????? Definition of Accident: It defines an accident as any event resulting in injury or death of workers, mandating immediate reporting and investigation.

c.??????????????? Reference: Factories Act, 1934, Section 31 - Reporting of Accidents.

7. ??????? Sindh Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2017

a.?????????????? Definition of Incident: Defines an incident as an unexpected event that requires preventive measures to avoid future harm.

b.?????????????? Definition of Accident: An accident is described as any workplace event that leads to injury, illness, or death.

c.??????????????? Reference: Sindh Occupational Safety and Health Act, Section 17 - Reporting of Accidents and Incidents.

8. ??????? Pakistan Building Code – Fire Safety Provisions (2016)

a.?????????????? Definition of Incident: Incidents include any fire-related alarm or emergency that calls for a fire safety response.

b.?????????????? Definition of Accident: Defines accidents as unintentional fires or hazardous events causing damage to building infrastructure or injury.

c.??????????????? Reference: Pakistan Building Code, Fire Safety Provisions, Section 4 – Emergency Response.

9. ??????? Punjab Occupational Safety and Health Act

a.?????????????? Definition of Incident: Incidents are any unplanned events that could lead to injury, emphasizing preventive controls.

b.?????????????? Definition of Accident: An accident is an event resulting in injury, illness, or property damage, requiring formal investigation.

c.??????????????? Reference: Punjab Occupational Safety and Health Act, Section 9 – Management of Incidents and Accidents.

10. ????? Manual of Pakistan Penal Code

a.?????????????? Definition of Incident: Pakistan Penal Code considers incidents as any unforeseen event that do not constitute an offense but may necessitate civil action for negligence.

b.?????????????? Definition of Accident: An accident is an unintended event that results in harm or death, often due to negligence or failure to follow safety protocols.

c.??????????????? Reference: Pakistan Penal Code, Sections 80 and 337, covering accidents and injuries due to negligence.

11. ????? International Labour Organization (ILO)

a.?????????????? Definition of Incident: ILO defines incidents as unplanned events that do not cause injury but indicate potential hazards.

b.?????????????? Definition of Accident: ILO defines accidents as work-related events leading to harm or illness, emphasizing risk prevention and safety measures.

c.??????????????? Reference: ILO’s Convention No.155 occupational safety & health convention, 1981.

12. ????? United Nations (UN) Guidelines

a.?????????????? Definition of Incident: The UN defines incidents as security or safety events that may indicate risks without resulting in harm.

b.?????????????? Definition of Accident: An accident is any unintended event causing harm or environmental impact, often in the context of public health or environmental safety.

c.??????????????? Reference: United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) documents and guidelines on health and safety.

13. ????? International Law (General)

a.?????????????? Definition of Incident: In international law, incidents include any adverse events involving environmental or public health risks, regardless of injury.

b.?????????????? Definition of Accident: Accidents are events resulting in physical harm or environmental damage, mandating accountability and preventive controls.

c.??????????????? Reference: International Health Regulations (2005), WHO & UN stds for health emergencies.

14. ????? International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

a.?????????????? Definition of Incident: Incidents include any unexpected events affecting humanitarian safety, requiring risk assessment.

b.?????????????? Definition of Accident: Defines accidents as adverse events causing harm to individuals during humanitarian aid delivery.

c.??????????????? Reference: Red Cross Code of Conduct and IFRC Guidelines for Emergency Health.

15. ????? National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Pakistan

a.?????????????? Definition of Incident: NDMA defines incidents as any unplanned events that require emergency response or preparedness measures.

b.?????????????? Definition of Accident: Accidents are events causing injury, death, or property damage, emphasizing preparedness and response.

c.??????????????? Reference: NDMA Act, 2010, Disaster Preparedness and Response Standards.

16. ????? ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

a.?????????????? Definition of Incident: ISO 45001 defines incidents as unplanned events that do not cause harm but signify potential risks.

b.?????????????? Definition of Accident: An accident is any unplanned event leading to injury or illness, necessitating corrective action and investigation.

c.??????????????? Reference: ISO 45001:2018, Clause 3 – Definitions and Clause 10 – Improvement.

17.?????? DuPont Process Safety Management (PSM)

a.??????????????? Definition of Incident: In DuPont’s PSM, an incident is defined as an unexpected event that occurs within a process but does not lead to harm, often referred to as a "near miss." Incidents are analyzed to identify potential safety and process weaknesses.

b.??????????????? Definition of Accident: An accident is an unplanned, unwanted event within a process that results in injury, illness, environmental release, or property damage. PSM emphasizes root cause analysis and corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

c.??????????????? Reference: DuPont Process Safety Management System, which outlines risk management and prevention standards for process industries.

18.?????? European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)

a.??????????????? Definition of Incident: EU-OSHA defines an incident as any event occurring in a workplace that could potentially lead to harm or injury. Incidents are noted for their potential risk factors and are used to improve safety controls and training.

b.??????????????? Definition of Accident: An accident is described by EU-OSHA as any event resulting in harm, injury, or illness at work. EU-OSHA emphasizes reporting, investigating, and preventing workplace accidents through structured safety protocols and workplace regulations.

c.??????????????? Reference: EU-OSHA Framework Directive (89/391/EEC), which promotes preventive measures to protect workers’ safety and health.

19.?????? Environmental Protection Law (General)

a.??????????????? Definition of Incident: In the context of environmental protection, an incident refers to any event that poses a potential risk to the environment, such as an unintended release of pollutants or hazardous materials. Incidents are documented to assess environmental impact and implement preventive measures.

b.??????????????? Definition of Accident: An accident in environmental law is defined as any unplanned event that leads to significant environmental harm, including air or water pollution, soil contamination, or ecosystem damage. Environmental protection laws mandate reporting, mitigation, & accountability to manage the aftermath of such accidents.

c.??????????????? Reference: Environmental Protection Laws vary by country but typically include legislation like the US Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), European Environmental Liability Directive (2004/35/EC), and Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (1997).

20.?????? Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923

a.??????????????? Incident Definition: While not explicitly defining "incident," the Act implies that any occurrence with the potential to injure a worker should be recorded and assessed to prevent future harm.

b.??????????????? Accident Definition: An accident is defined as an unplanned event that results in bodily injury, disability, or death of a worker. This Act mandates compensation for workers injured or killed in accidents arising "out of and in the course of employment."

c.??????????????? Reference: Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923, Sections 3 and 4 - Coverage for Accidents and Injuries.

Crafted by Dr. Zahid Faqir, PhD

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