Work safety - Fatal accidents at work (fall from heights, trapped under load etc.)

Summary

This video highlights the alarming statistics surrounding fatal workplace accidents in Finland, focusing on the findings of a 2023 study. In total, 23 fatal accidents occurred, all involving men with an average age of 49. Key causes included getting trapped under heavy loads, poor safety practices, and lack of communication, especially in small businesses. Notable cases involved unsafe equipment use, lack of proper safety gear, and failure to follow manufacturer guidelines. The video stresses the importance of improving safety awareness, risk assessment, and work coordination to prevent future tragedies.

Takeaways

• 😀 23 fatal work accidents occurred in Finland in 2023, all involving men with an average age of 49.
• 😀 The most common cause of fatal injuries was workers getting trapped under heavy loads.
• 😀 Nearly half of these accidents happened in the agriculture and forestry sectors.
• 😀 Many accidents involved workers working alone, highlighting the need for increased safety measures in solo tasks.
• 😀 Safety deficiencies were found in risk assessment and general safety awareness, particularly among small businesses and entrepreneurs.
• 😀 In large companies, poor coordination and ineffective communication about risks contributed to accidents.
• 😀 A worker died when a loader malfunctioned and tipped over onto a van, with safety issues such as poor visibility and overloading being key factors.
• 😀 A young employee was fatally injured by a log splitter while working alone, with safety deficiencies linked to inadequate risk assessment and bypassing safety controls.
• 😀 A driver was killed while trying to remove blockages from running machinery, against manufacturer guidelines, showcasing the dangers of bypassing safety procedures.
• 😀 The video emphasizes the importance of not streamlining work at the expense of safety, especially in high-risk environments.
• 😀 It is critical to follow safety guidelines, conduct proper risk assessments, and ensure safety training to prevent workplace accidents.

Q & A

What was the total number of fatal workplace accidents in Finland in 2023?

In 2023, there were 23 fatal workplace accidents in Finland.

Who were the victims of the fatal accidents in 2023?

All of the victims were men, with an average age of 49 years.

What was the most common cause of the fatal accidents?

The most common cause of fatal accidents was getting trapped under a heavy load.

Which industries were most affected by workplace fatalities in Finland?

Nearly half of the fatal accidents occurred in the Agriculture and Forestry sectors.

What safety issues were found among small businesses and entrepreneurs?

Small businesses and entrepreneurs lacked proper risk assessment, occupational safety skills, and safety awareness, which led to risky practices.

What safety shortcomings were identified in larger companies?

In larger companies, there were issues with poor coordination of work and ineffective communication of safety risks to workers.

Can you describe a specific fatal accident involving a log conveyor?

In this accident, workers were in a van inspecting a log conveyor when the loader malfunctioned and tipped over onto the van. One worker died, and another sustained minor injuries. Contributing factors included poor visibility, overloading, and poor communication.

What happened in the incident involving a young employee and a log splitter?

A young summer employee, working alone on a log splitter without proper safety equipment, got entangled in the spinning roller of the log table and was squeezed between its moving parts. The incident highlighted deficiencies in risk assessment, work orientation, and bypassing safety controls.

What was the cause of the fatal accident involving a driver and a moving machine?

The driver was using a shovel to remove frozen packs of crushed stone from a moving machine, which violated the manufacturer's instructions. The driver was pinned between the moving parts of the machine when his clothes got caught in the mixer shaft.

What key safety recommendations were made to prevent similar accidents?

The video emphasized the importance of conducting proper risk assessments, using safety equipment, following manufacturer instructions, and not compromising safety by streamlining work processes.