Accident Facts
Disclaimer
Accident Facts are not a HIOSH standard or regulation and they create no new legal obligations. The recommendations contained herein are advisory in nature and are intended to assist employers in providing safe and healthful workplaces. The §396 Hawaii Revised Statutes (Occupational Safety and Health Act) requires employers to comply with safety and health standards promulgated by OSHA or by an OSHA-approved State Plan. The HIOSH General Duty Clause, §12-60-2(a)(3), HAR and §12-110-2(a)(3), HAR requires employers to generally provide employees with workplaces free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm.
The following contains links to brief summaries of work-related accidents investigated by HIOSH. This is not a comprehensive nor exhaustive examination of the case. They are presented here in an effort to prevent similar recurrences in Hawaii’s workplaces.
Safety
Caught-in or caught-between hazards refer to injuries that occur when a person is being squeezed, caught, crushed, pinched, or compressed between multiple objects or between parts of an object.
An electrical hazard refers to the risk associated with either direct or indirect exposure to electricity. Typical dangers linked to these hazards include burns, explosions, electric shocks, arcs, fires, and electrocution, which can be remembered using the acronym B.E.S.A.F.E.
- #1-2005 — Electrocution (PDF)
Struck-by hazards are defined where by forcible contact or impact between the injured person and an object or piece of equipment.
Cave-in hazards, also known as “buried in or by” incidents, occur in unprotected trenches and excavations, posing a risk of crushing or suffocating workers.
Amputation is the traumatic loss of a limb or other external body part.
(for more information, see §12-52.1, HAR)
#6-2021 — Finger Amputation (PDF)
Health
Biological hazards are disease producing agents (pathogens) that can be transmitted to individuals through various routes of exposure (modes of transmission). Exposure to these hazards may result in acute or chronic health conditions.
Chemical hazards pose a wide range of health hazards (e.g., irritation, sensitization, carcinogenicity) and physical hazards (e.g., flammable, corrosive, and explosive).
- #14-2013 — Welder Killed by Exploding Oil Tank (PDF)
A physical hazard is an agent, factor or circumstance that can cause harm with or without contact. They can be classified as type of occupational hazard or environmental hazard. Physical hazards include ergonomic hazards, radiation, heat and cold stress, vibration hazards, and noise hazards.
