Accidents:
Review & Investigation
Basics
It is important that you check with your
Comprehensive Loss Control Coordinator,
Human Resources, and Supervisor to clarify
the specific roles and responsibilities you
may have in any accident review or
investigation.
Program Goal
Improve workplace safety by
reducing the number of
workplace accidents.
Objectives
You will be able to;
- Define “accident”
- Goal of an accident review or investigation
- Describe 4 categories of Causes
- Identify components of a good review &
investigation
- Identify pitfalls to avoid
- How to report review/investigation results
What is an Accident?
Unplanned event that results
in injury to an individual or
property damage.
Reviews & Investigations
Purpose of accident reviews & investigations
• Identify why & how failures occurred
• Examine possible corrective actions
• Protect personnel & equipment
• Prevent future accidents
• NOT point blame to anyone
To identify potential preventative
practices or measures that can be
implemented to prevent future
accidents.
What went wrong?
Not who is to blame!
Definitions
• Injury – to an individual as result of event
• Near accident/near miss – unplanned event that
almost resulted in an injury.
• Accident review – process of determining the cause
of accidents, near misses, to prevent future
occurrences.
Causal Categories
Procedure
Method
Accident
Environment
Tools
Causal Categories
• Written procedures
– Policy/procedures
Procedure
– Operator manuals
– Guides
• Industry standard/common
practices
– Example: Keep machine guards
in place while motor is running
Causal Categories
• Proper tool chosen for a task
Tools
• Did the tool fail?
• Tools adequate for the task(s)
• Examples: using a hammer to
remove a glass pane
Causal Categories
• Work area
– Crowded, access impeded
Environment
– Hot, cold
• Weather conditions a factor
• Visibility obstructed/limited
• Example: Steps and walkways
were glazed with ice
Causal Categories
• Proper technique being used
Method
• Appropriate application of
methods to situation
• Proper understanding of
method
• Example: Lifting boxes
improperly
Review vs. Investigation
REVIEW
INVESTIGATION
Who?
Supervisor
Supervisor , Safety Officer or
other designee
When?
Cause is clear, minor
injury/damage, or “Near Miss”,
every accident
Cause is not clearly known,
serious injury, damage exceeds
$5k, Multiple injuries/damage,
Recurring, similar injuries
What?
Identify cause & preventative
action
Identify cause & preventative
action
How?
Observe scene, talk with
employee(s), inspect tools or
equipment
Observe scene, interview
employee(s), inspect tools or
equipment, collect maintenance
records, repair records, other data
Time?
Brief, completed almost
immediately after incident
May take a few hours or a few
days
Review/investigations should be completed quickly
Components of a Good Review
Supervisor
immediately, promptly
debriefs employee
Components of a Good Review
If relevant, verifies personal
protective equipment was adequate
and being worn properly
Components of a Good Review
Supervisor identifies
cause and initiates
preventative action
Components of a Good Review
Supervisor shares
information with
employees as soon as
possible
Components of a Good Review
Accident Investigation
Investigations are
conducted when the
cause is not clear;
severe injury or damage
occurs
Accident Investigation
View the scene as soon
as possible after the
incident
Gather all related
documentation:
-Maintenance records
-Training records
-Procedures
Accident Investigation
Interview employees and
witnesses.
Note: Witnesses may include
maintenance personnel and
others that were not on the
scene
Review & Investigation “DO’s”
Identify the specific cause(s)
which resulted in the injury, or
damage.
Acknowledge adherence to
proper procedures/policies
Avoid “Pitfalls”
Jumping to
conclusions about the
cause, procedures or
overall accident
Not sharing
preventative actions
learned promptly
Assigning or
appearing to assign
blame
Review/Investigation
Determination
Every review & investigation
should result in a determination:
“preventable” or “not preventable”
Review/Investigation
Determination
PREVENTABLE:
Accident could have been
avoided if proper procedures,
methods, tasks had been
followed.
Review/Investigation
Determination
Not Preventable:
Reasonable safety precautions were used,
procedures followed, or methods were
properly applied, or the cause could not
have been easily foreseen by the
employee.
Review/Investigation
Determination
As a result of a review or
investigation it may be learned that
employees were completing tasks
in an unsafe manner such as
‘horseplaying’ or other unsafe
acts.
This information should be shared
with the employees supervisor to
be handled as a disciplinary matter.
Conclusion
Identify and implement preventative measures
to improve workplace safety by reducing future
accidents.
What is an accident?
Identify two causal categories?
Every review/investigation results in a
determination of _______________