Inadequate Training and Experience

Two facts that form the basis of mishap prevention are (1) mishaps are caused, and (2) the only way to stop them is to prevent or eliminate the causes. The more you know about the causes of mishaps, the better equipped you will be to prevent them. A practical definition of a mishap cause is anything and everything that contributed to the mishap. The most common causes of mishaps are (1) you, and (2) your environment. They could include: Your unsafe actions or the unsafe actions of your coworkers An impaired physical or mental condition of the people who caused or influenced the unsafe actions Any defective or otherwise unsafe tools, equip- ment, machines, materials, buildings, compart- ments, or other aspects of the work environment Studies reveal that the cause of at least two of every three Navy mishaps are caused by either a worker’s failure to do (or not to do) something, or a worker’s taking short cuts when performing a task. We call this “human error.” See figure 1-1. In other words, YOU cause most of your own mishaps. The following are some of the many factors that can lead you to mishaps: Inadequate training and lack of job experience Inadequate or outdated procedures in technical publications Inadequate posting or listing of the safety precautions you should observe when performing a task Behavioral factors, especially negative types of motivation Medically related factors that reduce your ability to work safely Communication problems caused by a break- down in passing, receiving, or understanding information Poorly designed equipment, such as improperly placed controls Refer to the following excerpt from Electronics Installation and Maintenance Book (EIMB), General, section 3, paragraph 3-1.1, for a brief discussion of the causes and effects of mishaps. “Most accidents are preventable. However, through ignorance or misunderstanding, there is a common belief that they are the inevitable result of unchangeable circumstances or fate. This belief is untrue because it fails to consider the basic law of “cause and effect” to which accidents are subject. In other words, accidents do not occur without a cause; most accidents are the direct result of some deviation from prescribed safe operating procedures. A preventable accident may be traced to causes as basic as the heredity and early environment of the individual. These causes may be revealed in the form of personal characteristics which permit the individual to perform an unsafe actor permit a hazardous condition to exist; when an accident results, the cause and effect sequence is completed. One purpose of safety rules is to remind the individual of the dangers inherent in the work. Training in the observance of safety precautions can be instrumental in avoiding preventable accidents and in maintaining a work environment which is conducive to accident-free operation. Operating procedures and work methods adopted with hazard prevention as a specific criteria do not expose personnel unnecessarily to injury or occupational health hazards. Accidents which are about to happen can be prevented if the “cause” is detected and appropriate remedial action is taken.” INADEQUATE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE Many mishaps occur because of inadequate training and lack of job experience. You may find yourself assigned a task that is clearly beyond your skill level. This may be because of an operational requirement or an emergency that requires prompt action. Or, your supervisor may not be aware of your limitations. These situations may cause you to misread instructions, take short cuts, or make other errors that could result in a mishap. Also, your chances of a mishap increase when you are not aware of the hazards associated with a particular task. It’s this lack of awareness that can keep you from taking the necessary precautions. In simple English—(1) DON’T TAKE SHORT CUTS, and (2) ASK FOR HELP. If you think a task is too hazardous, it probably is. And before you attempt to do it, seek guidance and become familiar with its associated hazards. 1-4