IOSH Measuring Performance 4

Question 1

What is the 'accident ratio' concept (Heinrich's ratio)?

Accepted Answer

The theory that for every serious injury there are many minor injuries and even more near-misses and unsafe acts

Answer

Heinrich proposed that for every major injury there are approximately 29 minor injuries and 300 near-misses/unsafe acts. While the exact numbers are debated, the principle is important: addressing the base of the triangle (near-misses and unsafe behaviours) reduces serious incidents.

Question 2

How should safety performance data be communicated to the workforce?

Accepted Answer

Regularly and accessibly through notice boards, team briefings, newsletters, dashboards and safety meetings

Answer

Safety performance data should be communicated regularly and in accessible formats. Workers should see how their area is performing, understand the significance of the data, and be encouraged to contribute to improvement. Transparency builds trust and engagement.

Question 3

What are the limitations of using accident statistics alone to measure safety performance?

Accepted Answer

They are reactive (measuring failure), can be affected by under-reporting, don't reflect near-misses, and low numbers don't confirm good safety management

Answer

Limitations include: they are reactive (measuring harm that has already occurred), they can be affected by under-reporting, they don't capture near-misses, low numbers could indicate good safety or good luck, they don't measure proactive efforts, and small organisations may have too few incidents for statistical significance.

Question 4

What is the role of the 'competent person' in safety auditing?

Accepted Answer

The auditor must have the competence (training, knowledge, experience and independence) to conduct an objective and thorough evaluation

Answer

Safety auditors need appropriate competence including: knowledge of H&S management systems and legal requirements, audit methodology training, understanding of the workplace being audited, and sufficient independence to be objective. Internal auditors should not audit their own area.

Question 5

What is a 'severity rate' in safety measurement?

Accepted Answer

A measure of the seriousness of injuries, typically calculated as the number of days lost per a given number of hours worked

Answer

The severity rate measures the seriousness (not just frequency) of injuries by calculating the number of working days lost due to injury or illness per a standard number of hours worked (e.g., per 1,000,000 hours). A high severity rate means injuries are causing more time off work.

IOSH Managing Safely Practice Test

IOSH Managing Safely Practice Test

IOSH Measuring Performance 4