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Accident Investigation

The document discusses accident investigation and reporting. It defines accidents and incidents, and outlines the goals of investigations which include preventing recurrences, finding root causes, and recommending corrective actions. It describes when and by whom investigations should be conducted, potential root causes, and the steps involved including securing the scene, interviewing witnesses, collecting physical evidence, analyzing data, and developing a corrective action plan. The purpose of recommendations is to specifically identify root causes and contributing factors to prevent similar future incidents. If human error is identified, the intention is remedial rather than disciplinary.

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Adelaida Cruz
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40 views4 pages

Accident Investigation

The document discusses accident investigation and reporting. It defines accidents and incidents, and outlines the goals of investigations which include preventing recurrences, finding root causes, and recommending corrective actions. It describes when and by whom investigations should be conducted, potential root causes, and the steps involved including securing the scene, interviewing witnesses, collecting physical evidence, analyzing data, and developing a corrective action plan. The purpose of recommendations is to specifically identify root causes and contributing factors to prevent similar future incidents. If human error is identified, the intention is remedial rather than disciplinary.

Uploaded by

Adelaida Cruz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Accident Escalation, Incident Investigation and Reporting

Accident- Unplanned Or Unwelcomed Event Which Interrupts Normal Activity And That May Or May Not
Include Injury Or Property Damage.
Incident-Occurrence, Condition, Or Situation Arising In The Course Of Work That Resulted In Or Could
Have Resulted In Injuries Illnesses, Damage To Health, Or Fatalities.
Goals of Accident Investigations

*Accident Investigation Is an Important and Necessary Part of Occupational Safety Process*

• Aim Is To Prevent Recurrences Of The Same Or Similar Accidents/Incidents


• To Find Facts, Not Fault And Fix The Problem To Prevent Accident From Recurring And Future
Accidents Can Be Prevented
• Determine Accident Sequence And Find Root Cause/S
• Disclose Unsafe Practices To Identify Training Needs
• Identify Trends To Improve Safety
• Recommend Corrective Actions
• Determine Total Cost Of Accident

When to Conduct an Investigation?

Conduct As Soon As Possible Hen the Following Events Happen:

• Accident
• Incident
• Near Miss

Root Causes of Accidents and Incidents

Accidents Likely To Result to Multiple Causes:

• Lack Of Management Oversight


• Equipment Failures
• Environmental Factors
• Unsafe Actions On The Part Of Employee/S Who Should Do The Investigating?

• Experienced In Incident Causation Models


• Experienced In Investigative Techniques
• Knowledgeable Of Any Legal Or Organizational Requirements
• Knowledgeable In Occupational Health And Safety Fundamentals
• Knowledgeable In The Work Processes, Procedures, Persons, And Industrial Relations
Environment
• Knowledgeable Of Requirements For Documents, Records, And Data Collection
• Able To Analyse Data Gathered To Determine Findings And Reach Recommendations
Steps Involved In Investigation

First:

• Report The Incident Occurrence To A Designated Person Within The Organization


• Provide First Aid And Medical Care To Injured Person/S And Prevent Further Injuries Or
Damage

The Investigation Team Would Perform The Following General Steps:

• Scene Management And Scene Assessment

-Secure the Scene to Make Sure It Is Safe For Investigators to Do Their Job

• Witness Management

-Provide Support, Limit Interaction With Other Witnesses, Interview.

• Investigate The Incident, Collect Data


• Analyse The Data, Identify The Root Causes
• Report The Findings And Recommendations

The Organization Would Then:

• Develop A Plan For Corrective Action


• Implement The Plan
• Evaluate The Effectiveness Of The Corrective Action
• Make Changes For Continual Improvement

How Are Facts Collected?


The steps in the investigation are simple: the investigators gather data, analyze it, determine their
findings, and make recommendations.

• Physical Evidence

Before attempting to gather information, examine the site for a quick overview, take steps to preserve
evidence, and identify all witnesses. In some jurisdictions, an incident site must not be disturbed
without approval from appropriate government officials such as the coroner, inspector, or police.
Based on your knowledge of the work process, you may want to check items such as:
• positions of injured workers • damage to equipment
• equipment being used • housekeeping of area
• products being used • weather conditions
• safety devices in use • lighting levels
• position of appropriate guards • noise levels
• position of controls of • time of day
machinery
You may want to take photographs before anything is moved, both of the general area and specific
items. A later study of the pictures may reveal conditions or observations that were missed initially.
• Witness Accounts

Although there may be occasions when you are unable to do so, every effort should be made to
interview witnesses. In some situations witnesses may be your primary source of information
because you may be called upon to investigate an incident without being able to examine the scene
immediately after the event. Because witnesses may be under severe emotional stress or afraid to be
completely open for fear of recrimination, interviewing witnesses is probably the hardest task facing
an investigator.

• Interviewing

The purpose of the interview is to establish an understanding with the witness and to obtain his or her
own words describing the event:
DO...
• put the witness, who is probably upset, at ease
• emphasize the real reason for the investigation, to determine what happened and why
• let the witness talk, listen
• confirm that you have the statement correct
• try to sense any underlying feelings of the witness
• make short notes or ask someone else on the team to take them during the interview
• ask if it is okay to record the interview, if you are doing so
• close on a positive note
DO NOT...
• intimidate the witness
• interrupt
• prompt
• ask leading questions
• show your own emotions
• jump to conclusions
Ask open-ended questions that cannot be answered by simply "yes" or "no". The actual questions
you ask the witness will naturally vary with each incident, but there are some general questions
that should be asked each time:
• Where were you at the time of the incident?
• What were you doing at the time?
• What did you see, hear?
• What were the work environment conditions (weather, light, noise, etc.) at the time?
• What was (were) the injured worker(s) doing at the time?
• In your opinion, what caused the incident?
• How might similar incidents be prevented in the future?
Asking questions is a straightforward approach to establishing what happened. But, care must be
taken to assess the accuracy of any statements made in the interviews.
Another technique sometimes used to determine the sequence of events is to re-enact or replay
them as they happened. Care must be taken so that further injury or damage does not occur. A
witness (usually the injured worker) is asked to reenact in slow motion the actions that happened
before the incident.

• Other Information

Data can be found in documents such as technical data sheets, health and safety committee minutes,
inspection reports, company policies, maintenance reports, past incident reports, safe-work
procedures, and training reports. Any relevant information should be studied to see what might have
happened, and what changes might be recommended to prevent recurrence of similar incidents.

Why Recommendations Should Be Made?


The Most Important Final Step Is To Come Up With A Set Of Well-Considered Recommendations
Designed To Prevent Recurrences Of Similar Incidents/Accidents.
Recommendations Should Be:
-Be Specific
-Be Constructive
-Identify Root Causes
-Identify Contributing Factors

What Should Be Done If The Investigation Reveals Human Error?


When A Thorough Investigation Reveals That Some Person Or Persons Among Management,
Supervisor, And The Workers Were Apparently At Fault, Then This Fact Should Be Pointed Out.
The Intention Here Is To Remedy The Situation, Not To Discipline N Individual.
Filing To Point Out Human Failings Will Not Only Downgrade The Quality Of Investigation, It Will Also
Allow Future Incidents/Accidents To Happen From Similar Causes Because They Have Not Been
Addressed.

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