Transcript Accident Investigation Basics

Accident Investigation Basic
 How to do Investigate workplace accidents for
managers and supervisors
What you will learn
 What is an accident or incident?
 Why should you investigate both?
 How do you find the true cause?
 How should you investigate?
 What should be the results of the investigation?
What Is An Accident?
An unplanned, unwanted, but controllable event
which disrupts the work process and causes
injury to people.
What is an “Accident”?
Definition: “an unforeseen event”, “chance”, “unexpected
happening”, formerly “Act of God”
• From experience and
analysis: they are
“caused occurrences”
– Predictable - the logical
outcome of hazards
– Preventable and
avoidable - hazards do not
have to exist. They are
caused by things people do
-- or fail to do.
Fatalities
Severe Injuries
Minor injuries
Close calls
Hazardous conditions
What Is An Incident?
An incident may disrupt the work
process, but does not result in injury
or damage. It should be looked as a
“wake up call”. It can be thought of as
the first of a series of events which
could lead to a situation in which
harm or damage does occur.
Example of an incident: A 50 lb carton falls off the
top shelf of a 12’ high rack and lands near a worker.
This event is unplanned, unwanted, and has the
potential for injury.
Accidents Don’t Just Happen
 An accident is not “just one of those things”.
 Accidents are predictable and preventable events.
 They don’t have to happen.
“The Tip of the Iceberg”
Accidents
Accidents or injuries are the tip of
the iceberg of hazards.
Investigate incidents since they are
potential “accidents in progress”.
Incidents
The “Accident Weed”
Hazardous
Practices
Hazardous
Conditions
Missing guard
Horseplay
Poor housekeeping
Ignored safety rules
Didn’t follow procedures
Defective tools
Equipment failure
No MSDS’s
Did not report hazard
Don’t know how
Purchasing unsafe equipment
Poor work procedures
Lack of supervision
No follow-up/feedback
Rules not enforced
Lack of Training
Lack of safety leadership
Poor safety management
Poor safety leadership
Root Causes
The Five Whys
 Basic Question - Keeping asking “What caused or
allowed this condition/practice to occur?” until you get to
root causes.
My car will not start. (the problem)
1) Why? - The battery is dead. (first why)
2) Why? - The alternator is not functioning. (second why)
3) Why? - The alternator belt has broken. (third why)
4) Why? - The alternator belt was well beyond its useful service life and
has never been replaced. (fourth why)
5) Why? - I have not been maintaining my car according to the
recommended service schedule. (fifth why and the root cause)
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Why Investigate?
 Prevent future incidents (leading to accidents).
 Identify and eliminate hazards.
 Expose deficiencies in process and/or equipment.
 Reduce injury and worker compensation costs.
 Maintain worker morale.
 Meet regulatory standards.
Investigate All Incidents and Accidents
 Conduct and document an investigation that
answers:
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Who was present?
What activities were occurring?
What happened?
Where and what time?
Why did it happen?
Actions At The Accident Scene
 Check for danger
 Help the injured
 Secure the scene
 Identify and separate witnesses
 Gather the facts – who, what, where, when, how
Help the Injured
 Provide First Aid – from the first aid kit
 Call family member to take them home, DR.
office, walk-in clinic or ER
 Call on-campus EMT squad – 911
 Clean up bodily fluids
 Pay the employee for the rest of the shift, if
they seek medical treatment
Begin Investigation Immediately
 It’s crucial to collect evidence and interview
witnesses as soon as possible because
evidence will disappear and people will forget.
Fact Finding
 Witnesses and physical
evidence
 Position of tools and equipment
 Equipment operation logs, charts,
records
Document
 Complete and online report
 Take photographs or diagram
 Preserve evidence if serious injury occurs
Online System
 Accidents or work injury/illness (no incidents)
 Complaints of personal injuries that could later
be claimed as work related
 Timely
 Completely filled out
SAP
Confidentiality
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All medical is confidential
Do not keep copies of reports
If printed must be shredded
Do not discuss with those who have no need
to know
Suspicious
 Em’ee asks to leave work to go to the doctor
about a sore wrist. They show up next day
with a ace bandage on wrist. 3rd day claims
(witnessed) they hurt their wrist at work. They
subsequently lie to the WC investigator that
they had not seen a doctor or had an ace
bandage on prior to the claimed date of injury.
Notify HR ASAP
 Lost time
 Medical treatment
– Work-related at any time
– Personal illness/injury and left work not by
themselves
 Death
 More than 2 sent to hospital
MOST IMPORTANT
 HOW CAN WE PREVENT THIS FROM
HAPPENING AGAIN??
TAKE ACTION – Tuition already paid
 Root Causes – enforcement, training,
hurrying/horse play
 Hazards – broken equipment, leaking floor,
wrong chemical
 5 Whys – maybe a combination of causes
ACTIONS
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Maintenance Work Order
Retrain
Signage
Arrange space differently
Remove or label clearly broken equipment
Discipline employees
Lack Common Sense ?????
FIRST QUESTION
 How will someone get hurt?
Beginning of the
Semester
 New employees and students
 Existing employees not physically use to
working/routine/lifting/standing
 New equipment/New units – new hazards
 Busy and lack student employees
New Employees
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New to ASC or new to you
Do not leave training up to co-workers
Training is not “baptism under fire”
How might this employee be injured?
Take them on a tour of the unit and point out
hazards
Do you want him training your next employee?
RECAP
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Take care of the injured
Document accidents – Gather all facts
Properly investigate accidents and incidences
How can we prevent this from happening
again?
 ASK yourself: how will someone get hurt?
Common Hazards
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Slips, trips, and falls
Cuts
Burns
Muscle Strain/ Sprain
Why is the rate of slips and falls higher
in December than October?
What type of burns do you get in food
service?
How will a cashier get a shoulder
strain?
Most common way to get a cut at ASC?