Accident Reporting Investigation Paul Craythorne Health Safety Environmental

Accident Reporting & Investigation Paul Craythorne Health, Safety & Environmental Advisor

Accident Reporting & Investigation n Course Objectives u to understand: F accident definition F accident causation F accident costs F accident prevention F accident reporting/notification F accident investigation

Accident Reporting & Investigation n Common Uninformed Comments u accidents just happen u we don’t have many accidents u safety is expensive u the insurance will pay u safety is just common sense

Accident Reporting & Investigation n Accident Definition u what is an accident? F unplanned & uncontrolled event that led to, or could have led to: • injury to persons, damage to property/plant/equipment, impairment to the environment or some other loss to the company

Accident Reporting & Investigation n Accident Definition F accident • • • types minor dangerous occurrence near miss plant/equipment damage minor injury lost time injury disablement/fatality

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident F Frank • • Definition Bird (Accident Triangle) 600 near misses 30 property damage 10 minor injuries 1 serious injury (lost time or fatal)

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident Causation F environment F personal fault F unsafe act F unsafe condition F accident F injury/damage

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident F causal Causation factors • individual • job • organisation

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident F causal Causation factors • individual – knowledge – skills – training – experience – personality – attitude – risk perception

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident F causal • job – – – Causation factors task workload equipment controls procedures environment

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident F causal Causation factors • organisation – culture – leadership – resources – work patterns – communications

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident F Kings • • Causation Cross Fire (1987) - 31 died discarded cigarette accumulation of rubbish poor cleaning regime wooden escalator failure of fire fighting equipment lack of emergency training poor safety culture

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident Causation F Herald of Free Enterprise (1987) 189 died • • • failure to close bow doors no checking/reporting system commercial pressures internal friction disease of sloppiness

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident Causation F Clapham Junction (1988) - 35 died & 500 injured • • signal failure incorrect maintenance degradation of working practices training problems communication problems poor supervision excessive working hours failure to learn lessons

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident F Piper • • • Causation Alpha (1988) - 167 died maintenance error inexperience poor maintenance procedures communications breakdown permit to work system fault safety procedures not practised

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident Causation F Automotive Supplier (1999) - 1 died • • poor safety culture lack of guarding lack of training poor perception of risk no safe systems of work no risk assessment programme no effective accident system no communication

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident Costs F insured costs F uninsured costs

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident Prevention F reasons • humane • economic • legal

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident F control • • Prevention measures safety procedures/work instructions adequate training effective communications good housekeeping guards/safety devices/warning signs adequate working environment regular safety inspections risk assessment

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident Reporting/Notification • internal report form • HSE RIDDOR report • injury claim requirement

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident Investigation F reasons • • identify root causes identify faults identify corrective/preventative action prevent recurrence

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident Investigation F investigation • • • team supervisor safety rep engineer manager safety officer

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident Investigation F investigation • • objectives establish chain of events identify root causes identify faults identify corrective/preventative action

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident Investigation F investigation • • techniques attend promptly ensure medical attention leave scene undisturbed take photographs/sketches take measurements take samples gather documentation interview witnesses

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident Investigation F investigation techniques • interviewing witnesses – explain purpose – their version of events – do not listen to ‘hear say’ – ask open questions – avoiding leading or implying – do not apportion blame – express appreciation

Accident Reporting & Investigation u Accident Investigation F investigation • • • report identify team summarise consequential events identify root causes describe other weaknesses identify corrective/preventative action allocate responsibility & timescale