What is an event that causes injury or damage?

September 28, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the National Safety Council, an incident is the preferred public health term for an event that causes unintended injury, death, or property damage. Understanding the terminology behind an event that causes injury or damage is crucial for effective prevention and mitigation strategies.

Quick Summary

An event that causes injury or damage is typically defined as an accident or, more technically, an incident—an unplanned occurrence with negative outcomes, such as physical harm, illness, or property damage. Distinguishing between these terms is essential for safety professionals and the public alike.

Key Points

Accident vs. Incident: An accident is an unexpected event, while an incident is an unplanned event that may not cause harm but still disrupts a process.
Causes of Damaging Events: Factors like unsafe human acts, hazardous conditions, and flawed management systems contribute to incidents.
Hierarchy of Controls: A five-level framework for preventing damaging events, prioritizing elimination and substitution over less effective controls like PPE.
Near Miss Importance: Investigating near misses—incidents that didn't cause harm—can reveal underlying problems and prevent future accidents.
Comprehensive Prevention: Effective prevention relies on investigating root causes, implementing corrective actions, and continuously improving safety protocols.
Wide-Ranging Categories: Injury and damage-causing events are not limited to one setting and include workplace incidents, public events, and natural disasters.

Accidents vs. Incidents: Clarifying the Terminology

In the context of health and safety, while often used interchangeably, "accident" and "incident" have distinct meanings. An accident is generally understood as an unexpected event leading to injury, loss, or damage. It suggests a random occurrence. Conversely, an incident is an unplanned event that may or may not result in harm or property damage but negatively impacts task completion. Public health and safety professionals often favor "incident" or "preventable incident" to highlight that such events are often avoidable. A near miss is a type of incident where no damage or injury occurred but easily could have. Understanding these terms is key to effective safety management.

Understanding the Causes of Damaging Events

Events causing injury or damage are rarely random. They typically result from a combination of factors, often described through models like Heinrich's Domino Theory. Key contributing factors include:

Human Factors: Unsafe actions like insufficient training, not following procedures, fatigue, distraction, or poor decision-making.
Environmental Factors: Unsafe conditions such as faulty equipment, hazardous materials, inadequate workspace, or poor maintenance.
Systemic Factors: Issues within an organization's safety management, including weak safety culture, inadequate supervision, or poor hazard identification and risk assessment processes.

Diverse Categories of Damaging Events

Injury and damage-causing events can happen in various settings:

Workplace Incidents: These include common events like falls, machinery accidents, exposure to chemicals, or injuries from overexertion. Organizations like OSHA track these to enforce safety standards.
Public Incidents: Occurring in public areas, these range from transportation incidents and events in buildings to recreational accidents and those during natural disasters.
Medical Adverse Events: In healthcare, these are patient injuries due to medical interventions, such as medication errors, surgical issues, or infections acquired in the hospital.
Natural Disasters: Major events like earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and tsunamis can lead to widespread injury and destruction.

Preventing Damaging Events: The Hierarchy of Controls

A structured approach to prevention is essential. The Hierarchy of Controls is a widely used system in safety, ranking control measures from most to least effective:

Elimination: Removing the hazard entirely.
Substitution: Replacing a hazard with a safer alternative.
Engineering Controls: Isolating people from the hazard using physical means.
Administrative Controls: Changing work practices and procedures.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Providing individuals with protective gear.

Key Safety Terminology Compared


Term	Definition	Primary Focus	Example
Accident	An unplanned, undesired event resulting in injury, illness, or damage.	An unexpected, often random, event.	A car unexpectedly hydroplanes and crashes.
Incident	An unplanned, undesired event that may or may not cause injury or damage, but affects task completion.	An occurrence that could have led to loss.	A tool slips from a hand but no one is hurt.
Near Miss	An incident where no injury or damage occurred but could have.	A warning sign that a problem exists.	A falling object narrowly misses a worker.
Hazard	A condition or practice with the potential to cause harm, injury, or damage.	The potential source of harm.	An oily spill on the floor.
Risk	The likelihood and consequence of a hazard causing loss or damage.	The probability and severity of the outcome.	A high probability of someone slipping on the oily floor.

Learning from Damaging Events: Investigation and Analysis

Investigating any event that causes injury or damage is vital for preventing future occurrences. The investigation process typically involves:

Initial Response: Ensuring safety and securing the area.
Information Gathering: Collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Root Cause Analysis: Identifying the underlying issues, not just the immediate cause. Techniques like the “Five Whys” can be useful.
Corrective Actions: Developing and implementing solutions for the root causes.
Communication: Sharing findings and new procedures to prevent recurrence.

For further details on safety terminology and statistics, the National Safety Council's Injury Facts glossary is a valuable resource.

Conclusion

Accident and incident, though often confused, have distinct roles in fostering a safety-conscious environment. Recognizing that most events leading to injury or damage are preventable allows for a proactive approach. By employing systematic investigations, implementing prevention strategies like the Hierarchy of Controls, and addressing root causes, the frequency and impact of these events can be significantly reduced. This understanding empowers individuals and organizations to work towards creating safer environments everywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

While an accident is commonly defined as an unexpected event with a negative outcome, an incident is a broader term used by safety professionals for any unplanned event, regardless of whether it results in injury or damage.

A near miss is an incident that did not cause injury or property damage but had the potential to do so under slightly different circumstances. Investigating near misses is vital for proactive safety management.

Human factors include unsafe acts like failing to follow procedures, poor judgment, or working while distracted or fatigued. These actions are often a contributing factor in the chain of events leading to an incident.

A hazard is the potential for harm, while an incident is the realization of that harm. An incident often occurs when control over a hazard is lost, leading to an undesired event.

The "Three Es" are Engineering, Education, and Enforcement. They represent a framework for prevention through designing out hazards, training people in safe practices, and ensuring compliance with rules.

The term "preventable incident" is preferred by many in the public health community to remind people that these events are not just a matter of luck but can often be eliminated or controlled through proper measures.

After ensuring immediate safety, a thorough investigation should be conducted. This involves gathering information, performing a root cause analysis, and implementing corrective actions to prevent future occurrences.