What constitutes an ‘incident’ in the context of safety management?
In safety management, incidents refer to any unplanned events or occurrences that disrupt normal operations and potentially cause harm to people, property, or the environment within an organization’s facilities. These incidents can range from minor accidents to major emergencies and can occur in various settings such as industrial plants, offices, construction sites, or healthcare facilities.
Here are some common types of incidents that organizations might encounter:
Workplace Accidents: These include slips, trips, falls, machinery accidents, exposure to hazardous substances, and other incidents that result in injuries or illnesses to employees.
Environmental Incidents: Events such as chemical spills, leaks, emissions, or other environmental hazards that can have a negative impact on surrounding ecosystems, air quality, or water sources.
Security Breaches: Incidents involving unauthorized access, theft, vandalism, or violence within the workplace premises.
Equipment Failures: Malfunctions or breakdowns of machinery, tools, or infrastructure that can pose safety risks to employees or disrupt operations.
Health Emergencies: Medical incidents such as heart attacks, allergic reactions, or other health crises that require immediate attention and intervention.
Natural Disasters: Events like earthquakes, floods, fires, or storms that can cause widespread damage to facilities and pose significant safety risks to employees and visitors.
Near Misses: Incidents where no harm or damage occurred but had the potential to do so, serving as valuable warning signs for identifying and addressing underlying safety hazards.
Effectively managing incidents involves several key steps, including incident reporting and investigation, implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence, and continuously monitoring and improving safety protocols and procedures. Organizations often develop comprehensive incident management plans and train employees to respond effectively to various types of incidents to minimize their impact and ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved.
How does ‘Incident Management’ work?
Incident management refers to the systematic process of identifying, analyzing, responding to, and ultimately resolving incidents that occur within a workplace or any other environment. The primary goals of incident management are to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals involved, minimize the impact of incidents on operations and the environment, identify the root causes to prevent recurrence, and comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
How does the Safety Matters app perform incident management?
Manage the entire life-cycle of safety incidents from reporting through resolution by:
Reporting and Monitoring Safety incidents
Active Case Management
Automated Workflows
Analytics & Reporting