Why Investigate Accidents

The role of the accident investigation team is to determine the

root cause(s) of the accident. The accident investigation is not
intended to place blame on anyone. Instead, the team will look
at procedures, training, equipment, tools, and possible lacks in
the systems of workplace.
1. Determine the root cause: to identify corrective actions
that will fix or repair the system lacks
2. Identify corrective actions: to prevent the accident or a
similar accident from happening again
3. Prevent the accident from happening again.
4. Document the accident: is to document what happened
and how the employee was injured. These documents are
used as an educational tool to help prevent a similar
accident.
5. Complete OSHA-required reporting.

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Accident Investigation Team

A successful accident investigation team should include
members from all levels of management and production.
1.
Employees trained to investigate accidents:
Employees from outside the accident area may know the
right questions to ask.
2.
Safety committee members also make good
investigation team members because they have a bigger
picture of the safety issues.
3.
The supervisor where the accident occurred
should also be involved in the investigation.
4.
The safety manager is important because he or
she has a keen sense of safety issues and potential hazards
and may be required to write the final report.
5.
The production manager, or the supervisors
boss, should also be involved, especially for the more serious
injuries.
6.
Plant manager: it makes the employees
understand that safety is taken seriously by upper
management.

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Investigators Qualifications
The investigation team must be trained in order to ensure a
complete and effective investigation. the member of the
investigation team, must :
Understand important role of accident investigation
play important part in preventing future, similar accidents
from occurring.
Have authority and accountability which includes closing
off the accident scene, asking questions, and making
recommendations.
Have skills to evaluate the incident by identify
contributing causal factors, question a witness
Communicate details both verbally and in writing, what
you have discovered during the investigation
Investigation Kit
The essential elements of an investigation kit include
1.
Camera and
2.
Report forms,
Flashlight
clipboard, pens
3.
Barricade tape
4.
Tape measure
5.
Tape recorder
6.
Work gloves

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Stages in an Accident Investigation

1. Dealing with Immediate Risks: When accidents happen
we have to make the condition safe and stop more injury,
help, treat and if necessary saving hurt persons.
2. Selecting the level of investigation: The highest work
should be for those involving severe injuries, ill-health or
loss. And more careful investigation and management time
by be closely at the core causes of important events.
3. Investigating the Event: The way things were and how
they came to be, what and why things happened, then what
needs to be done to avoid a repetition and how this can be
achieved.
4. Recording & Analysing the Results: Recorded in a similar

and systematic manner, provides a historical record, Analysis

the causes and recommended preventative protective.
5. Reviewing the Process: this should consider the results
of investigations and analysis the operation of the
investigation system.

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.

When to Investigate?
The investigation should begin immediately. The team should
be assembled, and the process should begin as soon as possible
after the incident occurs.

1. Interview witnesses as soon as possible; the memories

of the witnesses are affected by time.
2. Assess the section before clues are moved,
Investigators want to arrive at the scene before
anything is changed.
3. Finish and write up the investigation quickly, while the
details are still fresh in your mind.
Accident Investigation Is Like a Police Investigation
1.
Check the scene before anything has been moved
2.
Collect evidence
3.
Interview the witnesses
4.
Not looking for a criminal; not trying to place blame
on anyone
5.
Find what, why, and how

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