What does the Accident Pyramid illustrate?

The Accident Pyramid illustrates the principles of accident prevention pioneered by Herbert Heinrich. This foundational concept in safety and risk management shows that for every major accident that occurs, there are many more minor accidents and near-misses. Heinrich proposed a ratio that quantifies this relationship, suggesting that for every one major incident, there could be 29 incidents that result in minor injuries and 300 that result in no injuries at all. This model emphasizes the importance of addressing and managing minor issues in order to prevent more serious accidents, thus highlighting the necessity of a proactive approach to workplace safety. By focusing on the base of the pyramid—which consists of the numerous minor accidents—organizations can work to reduce the frequency of more serious incidents, ultimately fostering a safer working environment.