Accident Investigation Session Objectives You will be able

Accident Investigation

Session Objectives You will be able to: • Understand your role in the investigation process • Gather facts • Talk to witnesses • Determine causal factors • Identify corrective actions © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Why Investigate Accidents? • Determine the root cause • Identify corrective actions • Prevent the accident from happening again • Document the accident • Complete OSHA-required reporting © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

OSHA Wants to Know • Employee fatality—notify OSHA in 8 hours • Three employees hospitalized—notify OSHA • Document each injury • Record injuries on OSHA 300 Log • Post OSHA 300 Log © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

You Have Key Roles • Report any accident or near-miss immediately • As a witness, describe what you observed • Provide your knowledge of normal operating practices in the situation • Suggest corrective actions © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Accident Investigation Team • Employees trained to • • • investigate accidents Safety committee member Supervisor Safety manager Production manager Plant manager © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Investigator’s Qualifications • Understand important role of accident investigation • Have authority and accountability • Have skills to evaluate the incident • Communicate details © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Why Investigate and Your Role—Any Questions • Any questions about why we need to investigate accidents or your role in the investigation process? © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Investigate All Accidents • Workplace fatality • Lost time from the job • • or days away from work Restricted ability to work Medical treatment First aid Near-miss incidents © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

When to Investigate? • Immediately after incident • Interview witnesses before memories fade • Assess the scene before clues are moved • Finish investigation quickly © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Accident Investigation Is Like a Police Investigation • Check the scene • • before anything has been moved Assemble evidence Interview the witnesses Not looking for a criminal; not trying to place blame on anyone Find what, why, and how © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

The Accident Occurs • Employee immediately reports the accident to a supervisor • Supervisor treats the injury or assesses need for outside medical treatment • Accident scene is left intact • Supervisor contacts the accident investigation team • If able, injured employee completes incident form © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Beginning the Investigation • Get the investigation kit • Team reports to the scene • Look at the big picture • Record initial observations • Take pictures © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Investigation Kit • Camera • Report forms, • • • clipboard, pens Barricade tape Flashlight Tape measure Tape recorder Work gloves © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Any Questions? • Any questions about what and when to investigate or the investigation kit? © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Questions that Need Answers • What happened? • When did it happen? • Where did it happen? • Who was involved? • How did it happen? • Why did it happen? • How can we keep it from happening again? © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Fact Gathering • Name of injured and involved employees • Name of witnesses • Date and time of the incident • Work shift information © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Fact Gathering (cont. ) • General location of the incident • Specific location of involved employees • Normal job duties and training • Type of injury and body part injured © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Fact Gathering (cont. ) • Machines, tools, or equipment • Chemicals involved • Environmental conditions • Production schedule © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Interviewing Witnesses • Interview witnesses one at a time • Convey your desire to prevent accidents • Encourage witness to describe the accident in his or her own words • Discuss what happened leading up to and after the accident • Use open-ended questions © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Sequence of Events • Events leading up to the incident • Describe events of the incident • Events that happened immediately after the incident • Draw a chart of the events © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Incident Description • Details so reader can clearly picture the incident • Specific body parts affected • Specific motions of injured employee just before, during, and after incident © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Any Questions? • Any questions about gathering facts, interviewing witnesses, or describing the incident? © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Causal Factors • Try not to accept single cause theory • Identify underlying causes • Primary cause • Secondary causes © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Corrective Actions • Immediate corrective actions • Recommended corrective actions • Employee training • Preventive maintenance activities • Better job procedures • Hazard recognition • Engineering or administrative changes © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Completed Report • Signed by investigation team members • Signed by injured employee • Forwarded to management © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Causes and Corrective Actions—Any Questions? • Any questions about finding causal factors or implementing corrective actions? © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603

Key Points to Remember • Accident investigations prevent other accidents • Investigate accidents immediately • Gather all the facts • Interview witnesses one at a time • Record detailed description • Determine causal factors • Conduct corrective actions © Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0603