Accident & Incident Prevention & Investigation
Accident & Incident Prevention & Investigation
Accident & Incident Prevention & Investigation
Prevention
&
Investigation
Course Objectives
Understand the need to investigate
Know what to investigate
Determine the causes of accidents
Identify the methods of investigation
Understand the need to be thorough and
comprehensive
Identify prevention methods
Identify sources of assistance
What is an Accident ?
Any undesired, unplanned event arising
out of employment which results in
physical injury or damage to property, or
the possibility of such injury or damage.
“Near miss” situations must also be
addressed - events which did not result
in injury or damage but had the potential
to do so.
What’s in a name ?
Accident Dangerous Occurrence
Injury -v- S.B.I.
Significant Incident
“Near-miss” accident
“Near-hit”
Accident Ratio Study
Serious or Disabling
Includes disabling & Serious Injuries
1
Minor Injuries
10 Any reported injury less than serious
Human Factor
Immediate Substandard Substandard
causes Practices Conditions
ACCIDENT
unplanned release of energy
Incident - Contact and/or
hazardous material
Personal injury
Accident Results Property damage
Uninsured Costs
1. Results of Accident
Physical harm (Injury or
illness)
Property damage
catastrophic (multiple deaths) catastrophic
death major
disabling, lost time, major serious
serious minor
minor
notifiable
compensatable
2. Incident - Contact
Contact with
struck against
electricity
struck by
plant & equipment
fall to below
noise or vibration
fall on same level
hazardous substances
caught on
radiation
caught in
heat & cold
caught between
animals or insects
over exertion
microbiological agents
chemical contact
3. Immediate Causes
Standard Practices Standard Conditions
operating with authority effective guards & devices
use serviceable serviceable tools & equipment
equipment adequate warning systems
use equipment properly good housekeeping
use of PPE where non polluted environment
required noise
correct lifting hazardous substances
no drinking & drugs good illumination & ventilation
no horseplay good working, storage &
secure equipment or travelling space
warnings
4.Basic Causes
Personal Factors Supervisory Performance
lack of knowledge or skill inadequate instructions
improper motivation failure of SOPs
physical or mental conditions rules not enforced
literacy or ability (NESB) hazards not corrected
Job Factors devices not provided
physical environment
Management Policy &
sub-standard equipment
Decisions
abnormal usage
set measurable standards
wear & tear
measure work in progress
inadequate standards
evaluate work-v-standards
design & maintenance
correct performance if nec
purchasing standards
Why Investigate ?
Legal Requirement
Establish Causes
Prevent Recurrences
Accurate record
(courts & enquiries)
Statistical data base
Accident Investigation
A systematic approach to accident investigation, the
identification of causal factors and implementation
of corrective actions is essential to a good H&S
program and management system. Good
procedures:
provide information needed to determine injury rates,
identify trends or problem areas, permit comparisons and
satisfy Workers Compensation requirements;
identify, without placing blame, the basic causal factors that
contributed directly or indirectly to each accident;
identify deficiencies in management systems;
suggest corrective action alternatives for a given accident;
suggest corrective action alternatives for the management
system.
What, When & How to
Investigate
What to Investigate ?
Who should Investigate?
all accidents & near misses Supervisor ?
as soon as possible WH&S Officer?
scene interference
WH&S Representative?
survey of scene
Team?
chronology of data
measurements, maps & Training & Skills
sketches investigative & recording
eyewitnesses skills
reconstruction ? technical knowledge
statistics & trends interviewing skills
injury types & groups report writing skills
Qualifications
Technical Knowledge
Objectivity
Analytical approach to
problems
Familiarity with the job,
process or operation
Tact in communicating
Intellectual honesty
Inquisitiveness & curiosity
Tool Kit
clipboard, paper (incl graph) specimen containers
pens magnifying glass
camera & spare films compass
tape measure danger tags
cassette recorder & spare yellow crayon
tapes
orange flouro spray paint
reporting forms
torch with batteries
hi-viz barrier tape for scene
preservation hi-viz orange vest
first aid kit hearing & eye protection
identification tags for parts plastic containers for
gloves (industrial & medical) samples
safety helmet
roll of paper towelling
Let Us Begin !
Take all necessary steps to
provide emergency rescue and
medical help for the injured; and
take those actions that will
prevent, or minimise the risk of
further accidents or physical
harm to the victim or others
Action Plan
Identification of the individual who is in charge and
assigns responsibilities;
Authority to conduct investigation;
Securing the accident site for the duration of the
investigation, after rescue and damage control are
complete;
Photographic support or capability;
Procedures & equipment to ensure observation and
recording of fragile, perishable or transient evidence
(instrument readings, control panel settings, weather &
other environmental conditions, chemical spills, stains,
skid marks);
Development of a comprehensive report.
Determine the Facts
Visit accident scene
Take samples
Visual records
Preserve accident items
Identify people involved
Interview witnesses
Review information
Finding Facts
(logic method)
What was the exact injury or damage ?
What was the damaging energy source ?
What event immediately preceded the damaging
event ?
What happened before that ?
What happened even before that ?
What happened in between ?
What else was going on at the time of the accident ?
Was anyone else involved ?
Interview witnesses
Interviewing
Techniques
Put at ease
Assure “no blame”
Ask witness to relate their
account of the accident
Listen carefully
Ask questions - reinforce
Repeat if necessary
Ask witness for suggestions
for future avoidance
Encourage further contact
Be polite and thank the witness
A Good Report
Accuracy & completeness of information
Clarity & completeness of of the description
of the sequence of events leading up to the
accident
Correct identification of all causal factors
Clarity & completeness of all causal factors “A
Recommendations made for corrective GOOD
actions to reduce or eliminate the probability REPORT”
of recurrence of a similar accident
Recommendations for corrective actions to
improve management system BY
Timelines - specific time periods, monitoring CLEVER DICK
and responsibilities
Proper review and sign off
Documentation
Accident investigation Form
Witness Statements & Records
of Interview
Checklists:
Victim(s)
Witnesses
Environment & Locations
Equipment & Parts
Documentation
Accident/Incident Record
Records
Specified forms
records maintained
periods
Notifiable injury - S.B.I.
admitted as an “in-patient”
Times
S.B.I. - within 24 hours
death - immediately
Effects of Accidents
1. On the Victim
2. On the Supervisor
3. On the Company
4. On the Nation
1. The Victim
Death
Pain & suffering
Permanent disability
Effects on family & dependants
Loss of earnings
Extra expenditure
Inability to resume occupation
Psychological effects
Feeling of uselessness
Fear of further injury
Social effects
Loss of sports or hobby
2. The Supervisor
loss of trained worker
loss of production
extra work
investigations & reports
training new employee
loss of prestige by:
management
other workers
effects on promotion
worry (could I have prevented it ?)
Stress
3. The Company
loss of trained worker
loss of production
damage to machinery
damage to equipment
wasted materials
increased insurance premiums
prosecutions
fines
civil actions
legal costs
loss of prestige - customers
4. The Nation