Unsafe Acts & Unsafe Conditions - Active and Passive Violation

Active Unsafe Act

Active Unsafe acts are deliberate deviation from the set rules and regulations.

Eg:- Removing the safe guard of machineries in order to increase the rate of production, not following or bypassing the safe system of work etc.

Passive Unsafe Acts

Although passive unsafe acts are also deliberate deviation from the set rules and regulations these unsafe acts are mostly habitual in nature rather than acts that are a result of conscious thought. Passive violations or unsafe acts have become a part of day to day routine activity of the workplace.

Eg:- Not wearing adequate PPE in the workplace.

Active violations if not controlled will become passive violations.

Unsafe Conditions

Unsafe acts results in unsafe conditions. Some of the examples of unsafe conditions are:-

• Slippery, uneven or cracked surface.
• Protruding or sharp objects or structures.
• Improper housekeeping.
• Environmental factors like wet or humid conditions, high noise, hot or cold environment, lack of ventilation, lack of lighting etc.
• Presence of hazardous substances.
• Absence of machinery guards and safety interlocks.
• Absence of a safe system of work, arrangement and procedures in place