Two  facts  that  form  the  basis  of  mishap  prevention are (1) mishaps are caused, and (2) the only way to stop them is to prevent or eliminate the causes. The more you know about the causes of mishaps, the better equipped you will be to prevent them. A practical definition of a mishap cause is anything and everything that contributed to the mishap. The most common causes of mishaps are (1) you, and (2) your environment.  They  could  include: Your  unsafe  actions  or  the  unsafe  actions  of your coworkers An  impaired  physical  or  mental  condition  of the people who caused or influenced the unsafe actions Any defective or otherwise unsafe tools, equip- ment, machines, materials, buildings, compart- ments, or other aspects of the work environment Studies reveal that the cause of at least two of every three  Navy  mishaps  are  caused  by  either  a  worker’s failure to do (or not to do)  something, or a  worker’s taking short cuts when performing a task. We call this “human error.” See figure 1-1. In other words,  YOU cause most of your own mishaps. The following are some of the many factors that can lead  you  to  mishaps: Inadequate training and lack of job experience Inadequate or outdated procedures in technical publications Inadequate   posting   or   listing   of   the   safety precautions   you   should   observe   when performing a task Behavioral factors, especially negative types of motivation Medically   related   factors   that   reduce   your ability to work safely Communication  problems  caused  by  a  break- down  in  passing,  receiving,  or  understanding information Poorly designed equipment, such as improperly placed controls Refer  to  the  following  excerpt  from  Electronics Installation and Maintenance Book (EIMB), General, section 3, paragraph 3-1.1, for a brief discussion of the causes and effects of mishaps. “Most  accidents  are  preventable.  However,  through ignorance  or  misunderstanding,  there  is  a  common belief that they are the inevitable  result of unchangeable circumstances or fate. This belief is untrue because it fails to consider the basic law of “cause and effect” to which accidents are subject. In other words, accidents do not occur without a cause; most accidents are the direct  result  of  some  deviation  from  prescribed  safe operating   procedures. A preventable accident may be traced to causes as basic  as  the  heredity  and  early  environment  of  the individual. These causes may be revealed in the form of personal characteristics which permit the individual to perform an unsafe actor permit a hazardous condition to exist;  when  an  accident  results,  the  cause  and  effect sequence  is  completed. One   purpose   of   safety   rules   is   to   remind   the individual of the dangers inherent in the work. Training in   the   observance   of   safety   precautions   can   be instrumental in avoiding preventable accidents and in maintaining  a  work  environment  which  is  conducive  to accident-free   operation.   Operating   procedures   and work  methods  adopted  with  hazard  prevention  as  a specific  criteria  do  not  expose  personnel  unnecessarily to  injury  or  occupational  health  hazards.  Accidents which  are  about  to  happen  can  be  prevented  if  the “cause” is detected and appropriate remedial action is taken.” INADEQUATE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE Many   mishaps   occur   because   of   inadequate training  and  lack  of  job  experience.  You  may  find yourself assigned a task that is clearly beyond your skill level.   This   may   be   because   of   an   operational requirement  or  an  emergency  that  requires  prompt action. Or, your supervisor may not be aware of your limitations. These   situations   may   cause   you   to   misread instructions, take short cuts, or make other errors that could result in a mishap.  Also, your chances of a mishap increase   when   you   are   not   aware   of   the   hazards associated   with   a   particular   task.   It’s   this   lack   of awareness  that  can  keep  you  from  taking  the  necessary precautions. In  simple  English—(1)  DON’T  TAKE  SHORT CUTS, and (2) ASK FOR HELP. If you think a task is too hazardous, it probably is. And before you attempt to do  it,  seek  guidance  and  become  familiar  with  its associated  hazards. 1-4