Accident Investigation

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Accident Investigation
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Accident Investigation Goals

• Preparing the investigation team
• Conducting the investigation
• Quiz

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Why Investigate Accidents?

• Prevent a recurrence with corrective action
• Determine the cause
• Document your companys version of the incident
• Completion of OSHA-required reporting

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Who Investigates?

• Minor accident
• Supervisor
• Safety committee member
• Major accident
• Supervisor
• Safety committee member
• Safety manager
• Production manager

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Investigators Qualifications

• Accident investigation training
• Understanding of the importance of investigation
• Ability to communicate details

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When to Investigate?

• Immediately after incident
• Witness memories fade
• Equipment and clues are moved
• Finish investigation quickly

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Investigation Kit

• Camera and film
• Report forms, clipboard, pens
• Barricade tape
• Flashlight
• Tape measure
• Tape recorder
• Work gloves

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Accident Investigation Goals

• Preparing the investigation team
• Conducting the investigation
• Quiz

9
The Accident Occurs

• Employee immediately reports the accident to a
  supervisor
• Supervisor treats the injury or assesses need for
  outside medical treatment
• Leave the accident scene intact
• Contact the accident investigation team

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Beginning the Investigation

• Gather investigation team and kit
• Report to the scene
• Look at the big picture
• Record initial observations
• Take pictures

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Whats Involved?

• Who was injured?
• Medication, drugs, or alcohol?
• Was employee ill?
• Double shift or rotating shifts?

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Witnesses

• Who witnessed the incident?
• Was a supervisor or lead person nearby?
• Where were other employees?
• Why didnt anyone witness the incident?

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Interviewing Tips

• Discuss what happened leading up to and after
  the accident
• Encourage witnesses to describe the accident in
  their own words
• Dont be defensive or judgmental
• Use open-ended questions

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What Was Involved?

• Machine, tool, or equipment
• Chemicals
• Environmental conditions
• Production schedule

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Time of Incident

• Date and time?
• Normal shift?
• Employee coming off a vacation?

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Incident Location

• Work area
• On, under, in, near
• Off-site address
• Doing normal job duties

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Incident Activities

• Motion conducted at time of incident
• Repetitive motions?
• Type of material being handled

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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

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Causal Factors

• Try not to accept single cause theory
• Identify underlying causes
• Primary cause
• Secondary causes

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Corrective Actions

• Immediate corrective actions
• Recommended corrective actions
• Employee training
• Preventive maintenance activities
• Better job procedures
• Hazard recognition

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Completed Report

• Signed by investigation members
• Signed by injured employee
• Forwarded to claims management

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Accident Investigation Goals

• Preparing the investigation team
• Conducting the investigation
• Quiz

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Summary

• Investigate accidents immediately
• Determine who was involved and who witnessed it
• Ascertain what items or equipment were involved
• Record detailed description
• Determine causal factors
• Conduct corrective actions

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Quiz

• 1. It is best to interview witnesses all
  together in order to save time. True or False
• 2. Name two environmental factors that may be
  involved in an accident ________________,
  ________________.
• 3. Define a minor accident according to
  investigation procedures _______________________
  ___________.
• 4. The main reason for investigating accidents
  is to fix the blame somewhere. True or False
• 5. Employees need to report injuries onlyif they
  think they need to see a doctor. True or False

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Quiz (cont.)

• 6. Prior to arriving at the accident scene, one
  team member should have taken the
  __________________.
• 7. Describe at least 2 factors to investigate
  about the injured employee ______________,
  _____________.
• 8. How could the time of the accident be
  considered a causal factor?
• 9. Describing the general accident location is
  adequate for the report. True or False
• 10. Describe at least 2 factors to investigate
  when equipment is involved ____________,
  _____________.

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Quiz Answers

• 1. False. Witnesses should be interviewed
  separately.
• 2. Wet floor, poor lighting, cold or hot day,
  noise.
• 3. A minor accident is when the injured
  employee does not require outside medical
  attention.
• 4. False. Accidents are investigated so
  corrective actions can be taken to prevent
  another accident.
• 5. False. Employees need to report all injuries,
  no matter how small, and near miss incidents.

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Quiz Answers (cont.)

• 6. Investigation kit.
• 7. Alcohol or drugs, medication, illness, tired,
  extra shift, eyesight.
• 8. Early morning accident related to tired,
  inattentive employee. Late afternoon accident
  related to fatigue of a full day of work.
• 9. False. The report requires very specific
  details of the location of an accident.
• 10. Equipment malfunction, employee training and
  skill level, amount of supervision