Document 4a7Y2m90wM6DQLe8wM3bXYr51

Accident Investigation, Analysis, and Costs sis, cross classifications might be made, e g , between hazardous conditions and accident type, but in this instance the majority of the accidents were falls, and it was necessary to determine only the principal causes of the accidents Methods of tabulating In the preceding analysis, the tabulation was accomplished by hand sorting and tallying For analyzing a small number of reports, this method is the most efficient The principal advantage is that the original records are being used, and all the information is available should reference to it become necessary For analyzing a larger number of reports, and particularly to facilitate filing the reports, Keysort cards may be used (see Fig 12-2) This card is similar to the original report in that all information can be shown on the card In addition, the code numbers assigned the various facts may be punched m the cards so that they can be sorted by a special needle Sorting is a hand operation A third method of tabulation, which is fully mechanical, employs punched card tabulating equipment (see Fig 12-3) With this method, the code numbers only are punched into cards, which can then be quickly and accurately rearranged into various groups This method has maximum usefulness when the number of reports is very large, when many classifica tions and cross classifications will be required, or when tabulation of numerical data, such as days lost, will be made Using the analysis Of course, merely obtaining the informa tion will not prevent recurrence of the acci dents The conditions which contributed to the accidents must be corrected As an ex ample, the information obtained from the ladder analysis (Fig 12-1) emphasizes the need for making regular inspections of lad ders and for removing from service or repair ing those ladders having defects The fact that most of the accidents resulted from improper use of the ladders indicates the even more important need for emplovee training m the use of this equipment The verv definite and specific causes shown in Fig 12-1 indicate exactly what points must be stressed in a training program The irre futable statistical evidence also furnishes TABLE 12-B PREDETERMINED AVERAGE COSTS Class of Occident ClftSS 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4 Number of Occidents Reported 20 30 50 20 Average Uninsured Cost $ 60 00 1930 280 121 30 data for posters and other safety materials which the safety director will want to include in an all-out assault on ladder accidents The causes of the ladder accidents have been ascertained in terms so definite that guesswork can be completely supplanted by direct, positive action, which can have no other result than a marked decrease m the frequency of this kind of accident Estimating Accident Costs* This discussion concerns the elements of cost most likelv to result from a work accident and presents a method whereby an organiza tion can obtain an accurate estimate of the total costs of its work accidents Reliable cost information is a basis for decisions upon which efficiency and profit depend Even in so obviously desirable an activity as accident prevention, some pro posed measures must be accepted or rejected on the basis ol their probable effect on profits Although most executives want to make their company a safe place in which to work, they also feel a responsibility for running their business profitably Consequently, they mav be reluctant to spend money for accident prevention unless thev can see a prospect for saving at least as much as thev spend With out information on the coit of accidents, it is practically impossible to estimate the savings whuh are effected through expenditures for accident prevention Annual reports expressed in terms of dollar "This procedure for estimating costs was de veloped by Kollin H Simonds, Ph D, Professor, Michigan State College, under the direction of the Statistics Division, National Safety Council 280