Unsafe Act Definition and Meaning

Act is a term that comes from the Latin word actus. The concept can refer to an action or an event, among other issues. Insecure, on the other hand, is what lacks security.

An unsafe act, therefore, is an event that carries certain risks or dangers. The notion is used in the workplace with reference to the errors and failures that a worker commits while carrying out his activity, putting his integrity and / or the integrity of third parties at risk.

Unsafe acts may arise by omission or by action and involve the violation of practices, rules or processes that are considered safe by the employer or by the State. Therefore, beyond the specific consequence of the act in question, they are always subject to punishment by the competent authority.

Among the many examples of actions, omissions or failures that can be classified as unsafe acts we find the following:
-Do not use both the established clothing and personal protective equipment in the performance of the job.
-Perform actions without express authorization.
-Take wrong use of a tool.
-Use the work vehicle without following established safety guidelines.
-Not being alert or presenting a noticeable lack of attention.
-Use safety protection equipment without respecting existing regulations in this regard.
-Block or remove just because there are security devices.
-Overloading platforms, forklifts or similar facilities without respecting the maximum kilos indicated.
-Transiting through dangerous areas without protection.
-Not respecting the faithfully established rules on security.
-Access dangerous materials or rooms without wearing the appropriate wardrobe or equipment in general.

Currently, the figures leave no room for doubt about unsafe acts. Specifically, it is established that just over 90% of accidents that occur in the workplace have to do with the development of the aforementioned acts.

Exactly carrying out these unsafe acts can bring serious consequences such as from the employee suffering a fall until a serious injury is made, including getting caught, getting a burn or being in contact with harmful substances, your health may be impaired.

Suppose that a construction worker does not wear a helmet to protect his head, despite the instructions of his employer and the regulations that regulate activity on construction sites. This omission constitutes an unsafe act: the worker can suffer injuries for not wearing a helmet.

The surgeon who does not wash his hands before surgery also performs an unsafe act, as it can cause an infection in his patient’s body. The act, in this way, is subject to punishment.

Unsafe acts, in short, can threaten the health of people and the subsistence of structures. In certain settings, an unsafe act can even put an entire community at risk.