Medical Factors that Cause Mishaps

Motivation to Gain Approval and Attract Attention Even though you’re normally cautious, you may use hazardous practices if you find the people around you use and approve of such practices. Some of your coworkers may do this because of a need for recognition and status. This is especially true if they are the type who receive more criticism than praise because their normal work habits are poor and hazardous. Such people may seek recognition by driving recklessly, drinking excessively, ignoring standard operating procedures, acting impulsively, disobeying orders, and showing off. While these actions may satisfy their immediate need for recognition, they also threaten mishap prevention efforts, and maybe your life. Motivation to Express Resentment Many mishaps occur because of immature, irresponsible, or insubordinate behavior. This happens if you or a coworker becomes angry or resentful, and try to strike out at or get even with someone, such as your supervisor. MEDICAL FACTORS THAT CAUSE MISHAPS Medical factors such as illness, physical impairment, alcohol abuse, fatigue, and motion sickness, can cause mishaps. These factors are frequently associated with either a high tempo of operations that prevents proper rest and nourishment or with events carried over from a recent return from leave or liberty. Illness Your ability to work safely is sometimes affected by illness or the side effects of medicine. Temporary illness like colds, flu, dizziness, heat stress, and nausea can weaken your physical abilities. They can either reduce your strength, stamina, and coordination, or disrupt your concentration, mental alertness, memory, and reasoning ability. These side effects of medication, such as drowsiness, sluggishness, and lack of coordination, can sometimes lead to mishaps. Physical Impairments Any pre-existing physical impairment, such as a lower back injury, a slipped disc, or a hernia, may make you more susceptible to mishaps. Mishaps can also stem from visual and hearing defects. Common visual problems include color blindness, faulty depth preception, farsightedness, and nearsightedness. Hearing defects cause mishaps if they prevent you from hearing instructions or a warning signal. Alcohol Abuse Some people think alcohol is a stimulant. Nothing is farther from the truth. Alcohol is a chemical depressant. It acts as a general anesthetic for the parts of the brain that suppress, control, and inhibit thoughts, feelings, and actions. Alcohol typically impairs your judgment, gives you unrealistic confidence, slows your coordination, and degrades your performance. These effects are present whether you feel them or not. It’s these effects that cause the risk-taking type of behavior that can lead you to unsafe acts that cause mishaps. Fatigue Fatigue is not an all-or-nothing factor. It begins when you start a task, and it increases as you continue to perform the task. At some point during the task, fatigue can become great enough to impair your performance. It can decrease your work output, change your attitude, and reduce your motivation to observe safety precautions. But long before this happens, fatigue will decrease your awareness and reflex actions. It’s at this point where mishaps can occur. The following are some symptoms of fatigue: Lower quality of performance Irritability Impatience Forgetfulness Confusion Higher number of errors The following are some frequent causes of fatigue: Hard work, long hours, and lack of sleep. Environmental stress, such as heat, cold, noise, inadequate lighting, and vibration. Boredom and monotony. Change in routine. Suppose, for example, you’re accustomed to working days and sleep- ing nights. If you switch to working nights and 1-7