New study finds key differences between SIFs (fatal & serious injuries) and low-severity injuries: absent direct controls

Are the things that kill people different from the things that don’t? In some ways yes, according to new research.

This new paper from Matthew Hallowell and team compared a selection of SIFs (serious injuries and fatalities) versus LSIs (low-severity injuries).

Summary posted next week – but the study is open access, so you can read it now.

Results

Overall the study found:

·        There were no differences between SIF and potential SIF cases (PSIF)

·        Two factors differentiated between low severity incidents (LSI) and PSIF/SIF:

o  1) absent direct controls, and

o  2) absent or not followed work plan

·        “the odds that a SIF involves a missing direct control is about two orders of magnitude higher than an LSI”

·        No factors related to people were significant, implying that “safety practices focused on human behavior might be important for injury prevention broadly, but not for targeting the concerning plateau on SIFs directly”

·        Results indicate that “the control of high-energy hazards through effective work planning, discipline, and execution is vital for targeting SIFs, supporting the theory that a differentiated approach is needed to avoid the concerning plateau in the rate of construction fatal injuries”

·        They suggest the need for “a differentiated approach … to prevent serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs) in construction, and the key is the control of high-energy hazards (i.e., hazards involving 1,500 J or more) through proper planning, discipline, and execution”

·        “Within the safety profession, the idea that the things that hurt people are not the same as the things that kill people has begun to replace the antiquated view that SIFs will be prevented by addressing LSIs

Ref: Authors: Bayona, A., Hallowell, M. R., & Bhandari, S. (2024). The Things That Hurt People Are Not the Same as the Things That Kill People: Key Differences in the Proximal Causes of Low-and High-Severity Construction Injuries. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 150(8), 04024089.

Study link: https://ascelibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.1061/JCEMD4.COENG-14545

My site with more reviews: https://safety177496371.wordpress.com

LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/benhutchinson2_are-the-things-that-kill-people-different-activity-7204976739242975232-jrPV?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop