The calculation of accident risks in fitness for work assessments: diseases that can cause sudden incapacity

Risk equations have been developed to assist in determining fitness for wor k of people with diseases that may cause rapid loss of control. The four eq uations calculate the frequency of fatal injury to the person with the dise ase, the frequency of fatal injury to colleagues in the workplace, and the cost of fatal injury and property damage to the employer, it is suggested t hat the additional risk of fatal injury to the person with the disease shou ld not exceed the fatal injury rate in high-risk industries such as forestr y, fishing and mining. it is also suggested that the additional risk of fat al injury to each colleague should be no more than one-tenth of the fatal i njury rate due to motor vehicle accidents in the community. Two hypothetica l case examples are given, demonstrating the use of the equations. The equa tions highlight the need to examine the risks associated with individuals, their specific jobs and their workplaces. They also highlight significant u ncertainties in the determination of fitness, which perhaps have been under estimated in the past. Wherever possible, redundant defences should be util ized to prevent accidents in the event of sudden incapacity.