Safety Investigation
Techniques
PRESENTED BY
CTCD
RISK MANAGEMENT
On the Job Accidents
 All on the job near misses, accidents and injuries
must be investigated by the employee’s Supervisor.
Safety Policy 405.
 Goals of the investigation include:
 Fact gathering
 Prevention of further accidents and
injuries
Safety Policies 405 & 410
 Safety Policy 405 provides guidance for Supervisors
in conducting an investigation after an on-the-job
accident.
 Investigations are to take place as soon as possible
and unless circumstances prevent, the investigation
results must be reported to Risk Management within
24 hours. Safety Policy 410.
WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY,
 Always ask the ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘when’ and
‘why’ questions to determine the facts.
 WHO was involved/injured
who witnessed – get the names
and phone numbers of each individual.
Get the Facts
Ask each witness and the employee who had the
accident:
 Where did the accident occur?
 When did the accident occur?
WHAT
 WHAT determines what each individual saw or did
and the circumstances of the situation.
 The goal is to ask ‘open ended’ questions such as
“What did you see” to get the individual’s
recollection.
 Avoid ‘leading’ questions that will tend to reflect
your own ideas to the witness.
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Don’t ask :“he wasn’t wearing his safety helmet was he?”
Do ask: “did you see if he was wearing any safety equipment?”
If yes: “what was he wearing?”
Other possible ‘open ended’ What questions
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What was the lighting like? [i.e. dim, dark, bright, sun in your eyes]
What were the floor conditions like? [i.e. dry, wet, slippery]
What did s/he say to you after the incident?
What personal protective equipment [‘ppe’] is assigned in your
department?
What ppe was s/he wearing?
What did you observe in the area? [i.e. any warning signs such as
‘slippery floor’ ‘do not enter’, obstructed views , caution signs, etc ]
What are you taught regarding proper handling/use of this
equipment?
What safety procedures are required when performing this duty?
What safety procedures were followed or not followed?
WHY
 Why seeks the witness’ or injured employee’s
perception of the facts as they saw them and should
be asked after gathering the facts through the What
questions.
 Why do you think this incident occurred?
 What do you think could have
prevented the accident? [ok –
that’s really a What question, but
it seeks the witness’ and employee’s
perception]
USE THE FACTS YOU GATHER
 Provide Risk Management with a complete and
thorough Supervisor’s Injury, Incident, Property
Damage Investigation Report. Safety Policies 405,
410.
 Utilize the factual information collected to prevent
further injury or accidents:
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Give training on proper use of equipment or ppe, and safety
techniques.
Repair or remove the safety hazard.
Enforce existing safety practices and procedures.
If warranted, revise work procedures/practices to ensure
safety.
Injured Employees
 ALL employees who seek medical attention for any work
related injury MUST provide Risk Management with a
Work Status Report/Release from their health care
provider before they will be allowed to return to work.
 Employees will NOT be allowed to work without this
release from their doctor stating they can work either
with or without any restrictions.
Safety Training & Inspections
 Safety Policies outline Supervisors’ responsibilities
for workplace accident prevention.
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Supervisors are to provide safety training for each employee
upon hire into the department and at least twice yearly for all
department staff. Policies 100 & 200.
Risk Management can assist in the training
with its library of safety training DVDs.
Policy 140 requires monthly
safety inspections of each
department and work area.
Make Safety a Habit
Please help ensure a safe
environment for all staff and
students by following CTCD’s
Safety Policies and reporting
and correcting all unsafe
conditions before an accident
occurs!