Industrial Safety and Health Week 8: Accident Investigation and Reporting

Investigating Accidents

• The primary reason for investigating accidents is to identify the causes and prevent future occurrences.

Reporting Accidents

• Accidents should be reported to the nearest OSHA office when they result in a fatality, multiple hospitalizations, or meet other specific criteria.
• An accident report should answer questions such as what happened, when and where it happened, and who was involved.

Record-Keeping

• Employers are required to maintain records of occupational injuries and illnesses as they occur.

Purpose of Reporting Accidents

• According to OSHA document 2056, the purpose of reporting accidents is to identify and correct hazards, prevent future accidents, and provide information to employees.

Timing of Reporting

• According to OSHA document 2056, reports must be submitted to the nearest OSHA office within 8 hours for fatalities and 24 hours for multiple hospitalizations.

Photographing Evidence

• When photographing objects involved in an accident, use a recommended technique of capturing overall shots, medium shots, and close-up shots.

Witness List

• When compiling a witness list, record three categories of witnesses: eyewitnesses, hearsay witnesses, and expert witnesses.

Interviewing Witnesses

• The best time to interview witnesses is as soon as possible after the accident.
• The best place to interview witnesses is in a private, quiet area away from distractions.
• The approach to interviewing witnesses should be non-confrontational, objective, and open-ended.

Accident Report

• The purpose of an accident report is to document the facts and circumstances of an accident.

Consequences of Non-Reporting

• One consequence of non-reporting of accidents is that employers may be subject to penalties and fines.

Role of Safety Professionals

• In an accident investigation, safety and health professionals should identify the cause of the accident, identify corrective actions, and implement those actions to prevent future accidents.

Steps in Accident Investigation

• Steps in an accident investigation include securing the accident scene, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing the data.

Accident Report Forms

• Accident report forms must meet OSHA requirements and be retained for the required period.

Importance of Timely Investigation

• Accidents should be investigated as soon as possible to ensure that evidence is preserved and witnesses' memories are fresh.

Accident Analysis Report

• The purpose of completing an accident analysis report is to identify the root cause of the accident and implement corrective actions.

Professional Investigation

• In situations where the accident is complex or involves multiple parties, it is important to have a professional conduct the accident investigation.

Focus of Accident Investigation

• The primary focus of an accident investigation should be to identify the root cause of the accident and prevent future occurrences.

PPE

• PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment in the context of accident investigation.

Isolating the Accident Scene

• It is important to isolate the accident scene after an accident occurs to preserve evidence and prevent further accidents.

Team Investigation

• If a company prefers a team investigation for an accident, the team should include representatives from various departments and a team leader.

Recording Evidence

• The role of safety and health professionals in recording evidence during an accident investigation is to ensure that all evidence is documented and preserved.

Close-up Photographs

• When making a close-up photograph of an object during an accident investigation, use a scale to measure the object.

Witness List

• A comprehensive witness list should be created during an accident investigation, including contact information and statements.

Recording Evidence

• It is important to record all evidence immediately during an accident investigation to ensure that it is preserved and accurate.

Doubt During Investigation

• If in doubt during an accident investigation, do not speculate or assume, but rather seek additional information or expertise.