Accident Investigation and Reporting - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 / 17
About This Presentation
Title:

Accident Investigation and Reporting

Description:

Chapter 8 Accident Investigation and Reporting Major Topics Types of accident investigations When to investigate What to investigate Who should investigate Conducting ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:264
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 18
Provided by: generalUt
Category:

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Accident Investigation and Reporting


1
Chapter 8
  • Accident Investigation and Reporting

2
Major Topics
  • Types of accident investigations
  • When to investigate
  • What to investigate
  • Who should investigate
  • Conducting the investigation
  • Interviewing the witness
  • Reporting accidents
  • Ten accident investigation mistakes to avoid

3
Rationale for investigating accidents
  • The primary reason for investigating accidents is
    not to identify a scapegoat, but to determine the
    cause of the accident.
  • This information benefits the ongoing effort of
    reducing the likelihood of accidents, and
    preventing similar accidents from happening in
    the future.

4
When should an investigation be reported? Why?
  • According to OSHA document 2056 employers of 11
    or more employees must maintain records of
    occupational injuries and illnesses as they
    occur.
  • If an accident results in the death of an
    employee or hospitalization of 5 or more
    employees, a report must be submitted to the
    nearest OSHA office within 48 hours. This rule
    applies regardless of the size of the company.
  • The saddest part of non reporting of accidents is
    that they are not investigated to determine and
    eliminate the cause.

5
Accident report and accident analysis report
  • An accident report is completed when the accident
    in question represents only a minor incident. It
    answers the following questions who, what,
    where, and when. However it does not answer the
    why question. Supervisors often complete accident
    reports. OSHA form 301 can be used for accident
    reports.
  • An accident analysis report is completed when the
    accident in question is serious. It answers all
    the questions who, what, where, when, and why.
    Accident analysis must identify the actual root
    cause or the company will expend resources
    treating only the symptom or even worse solving
    the wrong problem. Serious accidents are always
    accompanied by the potential for litigation. If
    there might be legal action, it is important to
    have a professional conduct the investigation
    even if it means bringing in an outside
    consultant.

6
Most common causes of accidents
  • Personal beliefs and feelings Individual did not
    believe the accident would happen to him or her
    individual had personal problems that clouded his
    or her judgment, etc.
  • Decision to work unsafely Some people, for a
    variety of reasons, feel it is in their best
    interest or to their benefit to work unsafely.
  • Mismatch or overload Individual is in poor
    physical condition individual is fatigued, etc.
  • System failure Lack of rules, regulations,
    procedures failure to correct known hazards
    insufficient training for employees, etc.
  • Traps Defective equipment failure to provide,
    maintain, replace proper personal protective
    equipment, etc.
  • Unsafe conditions unsafe conditions created by
    the elements unsafe conditions created by a
    fellow employee, etc.
  • Unsafe acts individual chooses to ignore the
    rules individual uses drugs or alcohol, etc.

7
Accident investigation guide
  • The investigation should be guided by the
    following words who, what, when, where, why, and
    how. Causes of the accidents should be the
    primary focus.
  • SME recommends the following questions
  • What type of work was the injured person doing?
  • Exactly what was the injured person doing or
    trying to do at the time of the accident?
  • Was the injured person proficient in the task
    being performed at the time of the accident? Had
    the worker received proper training?
  • Was the injured person authorized to use the
    equipment or perform the process involved in the
    accident?
  • Were there other workers present at the time of
    the accident? If so, who are they, and what were
    they doing?
  • Was the task in question being performed
    according to properly approved procedures?
  • Was the proper equipment being used, including
    PPE?
  • Was the injured employee new to the job?
  • Was the process, equipment, or system involved
    new?
  • Was the injured person being supervised at the
    time of the accident?
  • Are there any established safety rules or
    procedures that were clearly not being followed?
  • Where did the accident take place?
  • What was the condition of the accident site at
    the time of the accident?
  • Had a similar accident occurred before? If so,
    were corrective measures recommended? Were they
    implemented?
  • Are there obvious solutions that would have
    prevented the accident?
  • The answers to these questions should be
    recorded. You may find it helpful to dictate your
    findings into a micro-cassette recorder. This
    approach allows you to focus more time and energy
    on investigating and less time on taking notes.

8
Safety personnel role in accident investigation
  • If the accident is very minor, the injured
    employees supervisor may conduct the
    investigation, but the safety and health
    professional should at least study the accident
    report and be consulted regarding recommendations
    for corrective action.
  • If the accident is so serious that it has
    widespread negative implications in the community
    and beyond, responsibility for the investigation
    may be given to a high level manager or corporate
    executive. In such cases the safety and health
    professional should assist in conducting the
    investigation.
  • If a company prefers the team approach, the
    safety and health professional should be a member
    of the team and in most cases should chair it.
  • Regardless of the approach preferred by a given
    company, the safety and health professional
    should play a leadership role in collecting and
    analyzing the facts and developing
    recommendations.

9
Steps for conducting an accident investigation
  • Five steps
  • Isolate the accident scene This is done to keep
    curious onlookers from removing, disturbing, or
    unknowingly destroying vital evidence. Nothing
    but the injured worker should be removed from the
    scene.
  • Record all the evidence As quickly as possible
    because certain types of evidence may be
    perishable accident scene may be disturbed
    knowingly or unknowingly, pressure may mount to
    get a critical piece of machinery back into
    operation. If in doubt, record it.
  • Photograph or videotape the scene Both still and
    video cameras must be on hand, loaded, and ready
    to use should an accident occur. Place a ruler or
    coin next to the object when making a close-up
    photograph to get the objects size or proper
    perspective.
  • Identify witnesses Primary witness, secondary
    witness and tertiary witness list.
  • Interview witnesses Primary witness first. May
    be necessary to re-interview witness.

10
Importance of recording all evidence immediately
  • It is important to make a record of all pertinent
    evidence as quickly as possible. There are 3
    reasons for this
  • 1. Certain types of evidence may be perishable.
  • 2. The longer an accident scene must be isolated,
    the more likely it is that evidence will be
    disturbed, knowingly or unknowingly.
  • 3. If the isolated scene contains a critical
    piece of equipment, pressure will quickly mount
    to get it back in operation.
  • Evidence can be recorded in a variety of ways
    including written notes, sketches, photography,
    videotape, dictated observations, and diagrams.
    In deciding what to record, a good rule of thumb
    is, if in doubt record it.

11
Proper perspective of close-up photographs
  • A problem with photographs is that, by
    themselves, they do not always reveal objects in
    their proper perspective.
  • The National Safety Council recommends that when
    photographing objects involved in an accident be
    sure to identify and measure them to show the
    proper perspective. Place a ruler or coin next to
    the object when making a close-up photograph.
    This technique will help to demonstrate the
    objects size or perspective.

12
Three categories of witnesses to an accident
  • In identifying witnesses, it is important to
    compile a witness list.
  • Names on the list should be recorded in three
    categories
  • 1. Primary witness.
  • 2. Secondary witness.
  • 3. Tertiary witness.
  • When compiling the witness list, ask employees to
    provide names of all three types of witnesses.

13
When and where of interviewing witnesses
  • To ensure that the information is objective,
    accurate, and untainted by the personal opinion
    and feelings of the witness, and able to be
    corroborated.
  • When to interview Immediately after the list has
    been compiled. The witnesses recollection will be
    best right after the accident. Immediacy also
    avoids the possibility of comparing notes and as
    a result changing their story. Individuals should
    be interviewed individually and separately,
    preferably before they have talked to each other.
  • Where to interview The best place to interview
    is at the accident scene. Ensure that
    distractions are removed, interruptions are
    guarded against, and witness is not accompanied
    by other witnesses. If it is not possible to
    interview at the accident scene, select a
    location that is not intimidating to the witness.

14
How to interview
  • The information being sought is who, when, where,
    why, and how.
  • The key to getting at the facts is to put the
    witness at ease and listen.
  • Listen to what is said, how it is said, and what
    is not said.
  • Ask questions, but phrase them in an open ended
    format What did you see?
  • Do not lead the witness with your questions, and
    interrupt only if absolutely necessary.
  • Remain non judgmental and objective.
  • Ask witness to simulate rather than actually
    perform the steps that led to the accident if
    possible. Record if possible and it is not
    intrusive.
  • At the end of the interview summarize what you
    have heard and ask have the witness verify your
    summary.

15
Purpose of an accident report
  • An accident investigation should culminate in a
    comprehensive accident report.
  • The purpose of the report is to record the
    findings of the accident investigation, the cause
    of the accident, and recommendation for
    corrective actions.
  • According to OSHA document 2056 employers of 11
    or more employees must maintain records of
    occupational injuries and illnesses as they
    occur.
  • If an accident results in the death of an
    employee or hospitalization of 5 or more
    employees, a report must be submitted to the
    nearest OSHA office within 48 hours. This rule
    applies regardless of the size of the company.
  • The saddest part of non reporting of accidents is
    that they are not investigated to determine and
    eliminate the cause.
  • More in the text book.

16
Summary
  • Accidents are investigated to identify causes, so
    that they can be corrected, not to assign blame.
  • Accidents should be investigated as soon as
    possible so that evidence and memories of
    witnesses are still fresh.
  • An accident investigation should ask the
    questions who, what, when, where, and how.
  • A safety and health professional should play an
    active role in the accident investigation.
  • Steps in an accident investigation isolate the
    accident scene, record all evidence, photograph
    or video tape the accident scene, identify
    witnesses, and interview witnesses.
  • Interviews should take place at the accident site
    whenever possible.
  • Ask open ended questions.
  • Accident report forms must meet the
    specifications of OSHA.

17
Home work
  • Answer questions 2, 6, 7, 8, 11, and 12 on page
    179-180.
  • 2. When should an investigation be reported? Why?
  • 6. What role should the safety and health
    professional play in the conduct of an accident
    investigation?
  • 7. List and explain the steps for conducting an
    accident investigation.
  • 8. Why is it important to record all pertinent
    evidence relating to an accident immediately
    after an accident has occurred?
  • 11. Briefly explain the when and where of
    interviewing witnesses.
  • 12. Briefly explain the how of interviewing
    witnesses.
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com