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Podcast: The Occupational Safety Leadership Podcast
Episode: Episode 196 - Occupational Safety - Accident or Incident Investigation?
Description: Dr. Ayers explains why safety professionals should stop using the word “accident” and instead use “incident.” The episode emphasizes that language shapes mindset — and calling something an “accident” implies randomness and inevitability, which undermines prevention.
🧠 Key Themes
1. “Accident” Suggests Unavoidable Events
Dr. Ayers highlights that the word accident carries assumptions:
It sounds random
It implies no one could have prevented it
It reduces accountability for learning
This mindset blocks improvement. Sources:
2. “Incident” Supports a Prevention Mindset
Using incident instead:
Keeps the focus on causes
Reinforces that events ar...