Dictionary of Insurance Terms: energy-release theory (of accident causation)
energy-release theory (of accident causation)
method, developed in 1970 by Dr. William Haddon, Jr., of classifying and preventing damage caused by accidents. The thesis is that accidents are caused by the transfer of energy with such force that bodily injury and property damage result. According to Dr. Haddon, strategies can interrupt or suppress the chain of accident-causing events. These strategies revolve around (1) control and prevention of buildup of energy that is inherently injurious; (2) creation of an environment that is not conducive to injurious buildup of energy; and (3) production of counteractive measures to injurious buildup of energy.
