Citation

Waller JA. J. Saf. Res. 1972; 4(3): 119-125.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1972, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Both human and environmental factors are considered in this study of unintentional injury. Potential injury-producing events ('accidents') occur when excess of task demand over human performance level unintentionally results in an energy release. Injury and its severity are determined by the rate and extent of energy transferred to the person. Ina study on nonhighway injury fatalities, alcohol (usually in problem drinkers) and medical impairment wre found to be frequent contributors to the initiation of injury events. Drugs other than alcohol were infrequent contributors. Product failure contributed often, both to initiation of the event and to increasing injury severity; fabric flammability was especially significant.