Accident Investigation Concepts and Theories

An OSHA inspection where a workplace is checked for imminent dangers to workers.

An OSHA inspection triggered by an accident or fatality at a workplace, like a serious accident.

An OSHA inspection based on a complaint made by an employee regarding safety concerns.

An OSHA inspection conducted based on a pre-defined schedule, targeting high-risk industries.

An OSHA inspection following up on a previous violation found during an earlier inspection.

A violation that poses a potential risk to workers' safety but may not cause immediate death or serious harm.

A violation that could lead to death or serious physical harm to workers.

The process of gathering information about an incident, typically involving questioning witnesses, reviewing documents, and examining the scene. It's a systematic approach to understand the causes of an incident to prevent future occurrences.

A method used in accident investigation to determine the precise location of an object or event. It involves taking measurements from multiple points and using geometry to pinpoint the target location.

Interviewing records means carefully reviewing documents to draw out valuable information. This involves examining logs, reports, and other relevant documentation for insights into an accident.

A structured process used to preserve the integrity of evidence, ensuring its authenticity and reliability in accident investigation.

An index of workplace safety performance, calculated by multiplying the number of reportable injuries or illnesses by 200,000 and dividing by the total number of hours worked. It provides a measure of the overall safety performance of a workplace.

A measure of the severity of workplace injuries and illnesses. It is calculated by multiplying the number of lost workdays by 200,000 and dividing by the total number of hours worked. It indicates the average number of lost workdays per 100,000 hours worked.

The costs related to an incident that are directly associated with the event, such as medical expenses for injured workers, compensation for lost wages, and repairs or replacements of damaged property.

The hidden costs of an incident are indirect and often overlooked. They include lost productivity, reduced morale, and disruption of routine operations.

These four hazardous conditions in the construction industry account for a significant number of fatal accidents: falls, electrical exposure, being struck by objects, and being caught in or between objects.

A formal process used to implement modifications to systems, procedures, or equipment.

A documentation outlining the technical reasons for a change, including its purpose and expected outcomes.

An assessment of how a change might affect employee safety, health, and the surrounding environment.

The timeframe needed to implement a change effectively, taking into account planning, execution, and testing.

A defined process for obtaining approval from decision-makers before implementing a change.

A record of all changes made, including the date of implementation.

Training provided to employees and contractors whose work is affected by a change, ensuring they understand new procedures or equipment.

The process of identifying and analyzing underlying reasons for accidents, including both surface causes and root causes.

Observable actions or conditions that directly contributed to an accident.

Organizational weaknesses or systemic flaws that created the conditions for an accident to occur.

An injury or illness must be recorded if it results in death, days away from work, restricted work, medical treatment beyond first aid, or loss of consciousness.

A combination of an organization's attitudes, behaviors, beliefs, values, ways of doing things, and shared characteristics.

A commitment to workplace safety from top management, including actions that demonstrate a genuine desire to protect employees.

The obligation to fulfill a task to a specific standard or face consequences.

Measurable and specific objectives focusing on improving safety outcomes.

Consequences that increase the frequency of a behavior.

Consequences that decrease the frequency of a behavior.

A company with a strong safety culture experiences fewer at-risk behaviors, low accident rates, low turnover, low absenteeism, and high productivity.

Having clear goals and objectives is a crucial component of a successful Construction Safety Management System (CSMS).

A strong safety culture is the most effective way to reduce accidents.

A theory that explains accidents as a chain of related events, where the final event leads to injury or illness. Breaking any link in this chain can prevent the accident.

An accident is caused by unsafe acts, unsafe conditions, or unavoidable circumstances.

A theory that expands on human factors, focusing on the possibility of system failures contributing to accidents. It acknowledges that accidents can result from a combination of unsafe acts, unsafe conditions, and system weaknesses.

Underlying issues in policies, programs, plans, processes, procedures, and practices that contribute to accidents. These weaknesses might be present within an organization's safety management system.

A theory that explains accidents as a result of a combination of random actions or events. Removing one factor doesn't necessarily prevent future accidents.