The Federal Labor Law (LFT) defines the Work accidents such as injuries or functional disturbances that occur suddenly due to the work activity carried out by the person or during their transfer to their workplace.
According to the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), work accidents are a consequence of “the dangerous conditions that exist in the equipment, work tools and facilities, as well as by the unsafe attitude or acts of the workers”.
According to data from the IMSS, and without considering the results for the years of the pandemic due to the alterations that it implied in the labor market, in the last decade an average of 410,000 workplace accidents per year, that is, 2.2 events for every 100 workers. In addition to this, there were an average of 120,000 accidents on the way to work.
“An accident is the result of an event that had an effect and an incident is the already merit, when you stumbled, but you didn’t fall. That is why we must promote the identification of incidents, because for every accident there are at least 600 incidents; that is, notices that we did not identify and understand. In such a way that when the accident occurs, it is because there were so many warnings and nothing was done”, points out Enrique López Hernández, academician of the Master of Sciences in Occupational Health of the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN).
Specifically, the IMSS identifies at least 12 dangerous conditions and unsafe acts that generate accidents at work, these can be:
- Improper work methods and work procedures
- Defects in equipment, machinery, work tools and facilities
- Incorrect placement of materials or products in work areas
- Machinery and tools in poor condition
- Poorly maintained facilities
- Lack of order and cleanliness in work areas
- Causing risky situations that endanger other people
- Inappropriate use of the hands or other parts of the body
- Carrying out activities or operations without prior training
- Operate equipment without authorization
- Clean, oil or repair machinery when it is in motion
- Not using personal protective equipment
From the perspective of Enrique López Hernández, to the extent that companies promote a prevention culture starting from the question What would happen if…?, it will be understood that the Work accidents can be avoided and that many times they are not because the worker does not have the capacity to perform the tasks.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that every year 1.9 million people in the world as a result of occupational accidents and illnesses. But there are also about 360 million accidents that are not fatal, but do cause an average of four days of absence from work.
This April 28 marks the International Day for Safety and Health at WorkWithin the framework of this date, the international organization launched a call for social dialogue towards a positive safety culturedefining this as a culture where workers feel comfortable raising their concerns about occupational hazards and management collaborates with them to find appropriate solutions.
How to prevent work accidents?
For Enrique López Hernández, a first step to prevent Work accidents is to identify the signs prior to the event and take action, but it is also important to build trust among workers so that they report the possible risks they detect in their daily activities.
“Who has to identify incidents he is the worker, because he is the one who knows the most about work. The worker must be convinced to report the incidents, generally they do not do so because they feel that they are going to classify them as a fool and then they keep it to themselves, ”says the IPN specialist.
Meanwhile, the Mexican Institute of Social Security recommends employers to avoid accidents, apply techniques, procedures and best prevention practices What:
- Carry out activities according to established methods and procedures.
- Use machinery, equipment, and manual, electric, pneumatic, or portable tools with safety devices installed.
- Correctly place the materials or products that are processed in the workplace.
- Maintain order and cleanliness in all facilities, areas, equipment, machinery and tools, among others
- Use the personal protective equipment provided by the company.
In a case study, Ecolab’s culture of prevention, which has launched the “Meta Cero” program to promote accident and incident preventionhas allowed the company to accumulate 13 years without work accidents at its production plant in the State of Mexico.
One of the company’s keys to achieving this goal is the commitment of executive leaders, but also the creation of a Safety Leadership Council and a Safety, Health and Environment Committee that is responsible for developing and implementing training programs. Y preventive training.
“Our proactive approach to identifying risks in our operations improves the comprehensive security program internal and drives results. Through internal and external safety observations and audits, we identify, assess and address risks at our locations and customer facilities,” shared Tony Sarraf, Ecolab vice president and market leader for Latin America North.