ACCIDENT

INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING
AR 385-40
DA PAM 385-40

Acdt Rpt 1
 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING
Accident Investigation Publications
• AR 385-40 - Accident Reporting and Records,
1 Nov 94
• Provides policy and procedures and assigns
responsibility for notification, investigation,
reporting, and submission of Army accident
reports.
• DA Pam 385-40 - Army Accident Investigation
and Reporting , 1 Nov 94
• Army Accident Investigation “HOW TO”
manual for aviation and ground accidents.
Acdt Rpt 2
 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING

TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

ACTION: Investigate / report Army

accidents
CONDITIONS: As a safety NCO / unit
leader
STANDARDS: IAW AR 385-40 & DA
PAM 385-40. Acdt Rpt 3
 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING
• PURPOSE OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
• DEFINE ARMY ACCIDENT
• ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
RESPONSIBILITIES
• CLASSIFICATION OF ACCIDENTS
• REPORTING AND RECORDING ARMY
ACCIDENTS
• CATEGORIES OF INVESTIGATION REPORTS
• INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES
• ACCIDENT REPORTING TERMINOLOGY
Acdt Rpt 4
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING

WHY INVESTIGATE /
REPORT ACCIDENTS?
“Those who do not learn from
their mistakes are doomed to
repeat them.”

Acdt Rpt 5
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING
PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION / REPORTING
THE INVESTIGATION DETERMINES:

WHAT WHY DID IT WHAT TO

HAPPENED? HAPPEN? DO ABOUT
CAUSE SYSTEM
FACTORS INADEQUACY / IT?
ROOT CAUSE
•HUMAN ERROR RECOMMENDATIONS
•SUPPORT
/ •LEADER FIXES
MISTAKE •TRAINING CONTROL MEASURES
•MATERIEL •STDS / COUNTERMEASURES
FAILURE PROCEDURES
•ENVIRONMENT •INDIVIDUAL
AL Acdt Rpt 6
FACTOR
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING
PURPOSE OF
INVESTIGATION/REPORTING:
• Identify accident cause factors and
system deficiencies
• Assess manpower and monetary
losses due to accidents
• Collect accident data to develop
accident prevention measures
• Prevention only (not to be used for
litigation, claims, disciplinary action,
or adverse administrative actions)
Acdt Rpt 7
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING
LEGAL / REGULATORY
REQUIREMENTS:
• OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
ACT (OSHA) PL 91-596
• EXECUTIVE ORDER 12196
• 29 CFR 1960, FEDERAL OSHA
PROGRAM
• DOD INSTRUCTION 6055.7
• AR 385-40
• DA PAM 385-40
Acdt Rpt 8
DEFINITION - ACCIDENT

ACCIDENT - an unplanned event that

causes personnel injury or illness, or
property damage.

AR 385-40, TERMS
Acdt Rpt 9
DEFINITION - ARMY ACCIDENT

ARMY ACCIDENT - an accident that results

in injury / illness to either army or non-
Army personnel, and/or damage to
Army or non-Army property as a result
of Army operations (caused by the
Army).

AR 385-40, TERMS
Acdt Rpt 10
 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING - AR 385-40
ACCIDENT REPORTING TERMINOLOGY
• PERMANENT TOTAL DISABILITY - Any
nonfatal injury or occupational illness
that in the opinion of the competent
medical authority, permanently and
totally incapacitates a person to the
extent that he or she cannot follow any
gainful employment. The loss, or loss of
use of both hands, feet, eyes, or any
combination thereof as a result of a
single accident.
AR 385-40, TERMS Acdt Rpt 11
 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING - AR 385-40
ACCIDENT REPORTING TERMINOLOGY
• PERMANENT PARTIAL DISABILITY - Any injury
or occupational illness that does not result in
death or permanent disability but, in the
opinion of the competent medical authority,
results in the loss or permanent impairment of
any part of the body with the following
exceptions:
• Loss of teeth
• Loss of fingernails or toenails
• Loss of tip of finger or tip of toe
• Hearing loss
Acdt Rpt 12
 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING - AR 385-40
ACCIDENT REPORTING TERMINOLOGY
• LOST-TIME CASE- A nonfatal traumatic injury
that causes any loss of time from work beyond
the day or shift on which it occurred or a
nonfatal non-traumatic illness / disease that
causes loss of time from work or disability at
any time.

AR 385-40, TERMS Acdt Rpt 13

 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING - AR 385-40
ACCIDENT REPORTING TERMINOLOGY
• LOST-WORKDAY CASE- Cases in which an
accident results in Army personnel missing one
or more days of work. Days away from work
are those workdays (consecutive or not) on
which Army personnel would have worked but
could not because of injury, occupational
illness, or job-related physical deficiencies
detected during medical surveillance
examinations.

AR 385-40, TERMS Acdt Rpt 14

 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING - AR 385-40
ACCIDENT REPORTING TERMINOLOGY
• NONFATAL CASE WITHOUT LOST
WORKDAYS - (Light duty / restricted work
activity) - cases other than lost workday cases
where army military, civilian personnel,
because of an injury or occupational illness,
experienced one or more of the following:
• Permanent transfer to another job or
termination.
• Loss of consciousness
• Restricted duty (profile)
AR 385-40, TERMS Acdt Rpt 15
 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING - AR 385-40
ACCIDENT REPORTING TERMINOLOGY
• INJURY- A traumatic wound or other condition
of the body caused by external forces,
including stress or strain. The injury is
identifiable to time and place of occurrence
and member or function of the body affected,
and is caused by a specific event or incident or
series or events or incidents within a single day
or work shift.

AR 385-40, TERMS Acdt Rpt 16

 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING - AR 385-40
ACCIDENT REPORTING TERMINOLOGY
• OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS - Nontraumatic
physiological harm or loss of capacity
produced by systemic infection; continued or
repeated stress or strain; exposure to toxins,
poisons, fumes, etc., or other continued and
repeated exposures to conditions of the work
environment over a long period of time. A
condition that does not meet the definition of
an injury.

AR 385-40, TERMS Acdt Rpt 17

 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING - AR 385-40
ACCIDENT REPORTING TERMINOLOGY
• MEDICAL TREATMENT- Any treatment (other
than first aid) administered by a physician or by
registered professional medical personnel
under orders of a physician

AR 385-40, TERMS Acdt Rpt 18

 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING - AR 385-40
ACCIDENT REPORTING TERMINOLOGY
• FIRST AID - One-time medical treatment
for minor scratches, cuts, burns, and
similar injuries that do not ordinarily
require medical attention, plus any
follow-up visits for observation. Such
one-time treatment and follow-up visits
will be considered first aid, even if
provided by a physician.

AR 385-40, TERMS Acdt Rpt 19

WHAT TO INVESTIGATE / REPORT
-
Commanders will investigate / report:

• Damage to Army property.

• Injury (fatal or nonfatal) to military
personnel
• Injury to on-duty civilian personnel
• Occupational injury or illness (fatal or
nonfatal) to military personnel or Army
civilian employees

AR 385-40, 2-3 Acdt Rpt 20

 WHAT TO INVESTIGATE / REPORT
-
Commanders will investigate / report:

• Injury / illness to non-Army personnel as a

result of Army operations.
• Damage to non-Army property as a direct
result of Army operations.
• Class E Aviation incident
• FOD incidents (class F)

Acdt Rpt 21
OCCURRENCES -
NOT AN ARMY ACCIDENT
• Combat losses
• Directly caused by enemy action
• Due to evasive action taken to avoid enemy
fire
• Failure to return from a combat mission
• Malfunction or failure of component
parts

AR 385-40, 2-5 Acdt Rpt 22

OCCURRENCES -
NOT AN ARMY ACCIDENT (CON’T)
• Expected damage (testing)
• Property damage as a result of
vandalism, riot, civil disorder, felony
• Deliberate damage to aircraft or
equipment or to occupants
• Accidents occurring during transport by
commercial carrier

Acdt Rpt 23
 NONREPORTABLE
INJURIES / ILLNESSES
• NONOCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS / INJURY
- Injury / illness is not proximate cause.
Example -excessive bleeding of
hemophiliac
• SELF-INFLICTED INJURIES - Suicide or
self-inflicted injury
• CRIMINAL ASSAULT - Fist-fight or brawl
• PRIOR-SERVICE INJURIES - Injury prior
to service entry

AR 385-40, 2-7 Acdt Rpt 24

 NONREPORTABLE
INJURIES / ILLNESSES
• INFECTIVE AND PARASITIC DISEASE -
Example - respiratory disease or food-
poisoning
• STRAINS - Resulting from pre-existing
musculoskeletal disorder (strain occurs
during sneeze)
• HOSPITALIZATION (OBSERVATION ONLY)
• ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY - Injury
occurring while attempting escape

Acdt Rpt 25
 NONREPORTABLE
INJURIES / ILLNESSES

• DEATH DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES -

Example - heart attack
• ADVERSE REACTION- Reaction to
alcohol or drugs not administered by
medical authority
• PRE-EXISTING INJURIES OR
ILLNESSES

Acdt Rpt 26
 CLASSIFICATION OF ARMY
ACCIDENTS
Accident Type And Classification are
used to determine:
• Notification requirements,
• Site security requirements,
• Investigation procedures and
responsibilities,
• Required accident reports

AR 385-40, 2-2
Acdt Rpt 27
 CLASSIFICATION OF ARMY
ACCIDENTS
CLASS A - an Army accident in which:
• The resulting total cost of property
damage is $1,000,000 or more;
• An Army aircraft or missile is
destroyed, missing, or abandoned; or
• An injury and/or occupational illness
results in a fatality or permanent
total disability.

AR 385-40, 2-2 Acdt Rpt 28

 CLASSIFICATION OF ARMY
ACCIDENTS
CLASS B - an Army accident in which:
• The resulting total cost of property
damage is $200,000 or more,
• But less than $1,000,000;
• An injury and/or occupational illness
results in permanent partial
disability, or
• When five or more personnel are
inpatient hospitalized from a single
occurrence.

AR 385-40, 2-2 Acdt Rpt 29

CLASSIFICATION OF ARMY ACCIDENTS
NOTIFICATION, SECURITY, INVESTIGATION
NOTE:
• Class A & B accident investigations are
conducted by an accident investigation
board (CAI or IAI Board).
• Immediate notification is required
through chain of command to USASC
• If possible, unit must secure the
accident site for the accident board to
see. (May not be possible for traffic
accident)
Acdt Rpt 30
AR 385-40, 3-2, 4-2
 CLASSIFICATION OF ARMY
ACCIDENTS
CLASS C - an Army accident in which:
• The resulting total cost of property
damage is $10,000 or more,
• But less than $200,000;
• A nonfatal injury that causes any loss of
time from work beyond the day or shift
on which it occurred;
• Or a nonfatal occupational illness that
causes loss of time from work (e.g. 1
work day) or disability at any time (lost
time case).
Acdt Rpt 31
AR 385-40, 2-2
 CLASSIFICATION OF ARMY
ACCIDENTS
CLASS D - an Army accident in which:
• The resulting total cost of property
damage is $2,000 or more,
• But less than $10,000.
• Example:
• An Army 5 ton truck backed into a parked
civilian auto resulting in $2500 damage to
the privately owned vehicle (as a result of
Army operations).
• Note: An Army accident resulting in less than
$2000 property damage and no lost time injury
are reported using local procedures.
Acdt Rpt 32
AR 385-40, 2-2
 CLASSIFICATION OF ARMY
ACCIDENTS
CLASS E aviation incident -
• An Army incident in which the resulting
damage cost and injury severity do not meet
the criteria for Class A-D accident
($2,000 or more damage; lost time/restricted
activity case).
• A Class E aviation incident is reportable when
the mission is interrupted or not completed.

Acdt Rpt 33
AR 385-40, 2-2
 CLASSIFICATION OF ARMY
ACCIDENTS
FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE (FOD)
AVIATION INCIDENT (CLASS F) -

• Recordable incidents are confined to

aircraft turbine engine damage only as a
result of internal or external FOD

Acdt Rpt 34
AR 385-40, 2-2
 ARMY ACCIDENT TYPES
• ARMY AIRCRAFT • FIRE
ACCIDENT • CHEMICAL AGENT
• ARMY MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT
ACCIDENT (AMV) • EXPLOSIVES ACCIDENT
• ARMY COMBAT VEHICLE • IONIZING AND
(ACV) NONIONIZING
• ARMY OPERATED VEHICLE RADIATION ACDT &
• OTHER ARMY VEHICLE INCIDENT
• PRIVATELY OWNED • NUCLEAR
VEHICLE (POV) • BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE
• PERSONNEL INJURY - MISHAP
OTHER • DRONE AIRCRAFT (RPV)
• MARINE ACCIDENT • FRATRICIDE
PE # 1 Acdt Rpt 35
COMMAND RESPONSIBILITIES
PRELIMINARY ACCIDENT SITE PROCEDURES:

• Initiate actions IAW unit pre-accident plan

• Contact emergency services - fire, rescue, MP,
HAZMAT team, EOD
• Notification - chain of command
• First priority - safety of victims, personnel
involved, and the general public

AR 385-40, 2-9, 3-2 Acdt Rpt 36

COMMAND RESPONSIBILITIES
PRELININARY ACCIDENT SITE PROCEDURES:
• Neutralize accident site hazards:
• Fire
• Ammunition cook-off / explosion
• Fuel spill / hazardous materials.
• Burnt carbon fibers (composite
materials).
• Traffic hazards / additional collisions.
• Electrical hazards
• Bloodborne pathogen

AR 385-40, 2-9, 3-2 Acdt Rpt 37

COMMAND RESPONSIBILITIES
PRELININARY ACCIDENT SITE PROCEDURES:

• Take action to secure / preserve the

accident scene
• Safeguard from bystanders
• Control access to site
• Rope off site - keep unauthorized
personnel out
• Protect physical evidence - ground
markings / scars, placement of
wreckage / equipment
AR 385-40, 2-9, 3-2 Acdt Rpt 38
COMMAND RESPONSIBILITIES
PRELIMINARY ACCIDENT SITE PROCEDURES:
• Notify the commander of personnel
involved
• Notify USASC, DSN 558-2660/3410 (Class A
& B (Avn / Gnd); & Class C Avn mishap)
• Notify USASC - (DA Civilian injuries - 3 or
more hospitalized from a single accident -
OSHA DOL notification)
• Provide information from Notification
Worksheet DA Form 7306-R

AR 385-40, 2-9, 3-2 Acdt Rpt 39

COMMAND RESPONSIBILITIES
INVESTIGATION / REPORTING
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Commanders at all levels (installation level
down to company or detachment) are
responsible for investigating and reporting
accidents.
• Class A & B On-duty - CAI / IAI board
• Class A & B Off-duty - Unit prepares AGAR / follow
MACOM /installation procedures for fatal
accidents.
• Class C & D - unit prepares AGAR
• Accident report submitted through chain of
command / installation safety to USASC
AR 385-40 Table E-1 / E-2 Acdt Rpt 40
 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
RESPONSIBILITIES - GROUND
ACDT CLASS RESPONSIBILITY REPORT
LASS A & B (NOTIFY USASC) DA 285 +
ON-DUTY CAI / IAI BOARD TECH RPT
LASS A & B (NOTIFY USASC) AGAR
OFF-DUTY MAY APPOINT IAI 30 DAYS
SS C & D UNIT CDR AGAR
DUTY 30 DAYS
ASS A-D UNIT CDR AGAR
F-DUTY 30 DAYS
A CIVILIAN (CLASS A & B CA-1, CA-2
N-DUTY NOTIFY USASC) CA-6
LASS A & B CAI / IAI BOARD TECH RPT
LASS C SUPERVISOR CA-1,
Acdt Rpt 41CA-2
 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
RESPONSIBILITIES -
AVIATION
ACDT CLASS RESPONSIBILITY REPORT
LASS A (NOTIFY USASC) DA 2397 +
CAI / IAI BOARD TECH RP
LASS B (NOTIFY USASC) DA 2397 +
CAI / IAI BOARD TECH RP

ASS C (NOTIFY USASC) AAAR

IAI BOARD 90 DA
CLASS D - F UNIT CDR
AAAR
(PE # 2) Acdt Rpt 42
 REPORTING vs. RECORDING
ARMY ACCIDENTS
REPORTABLE
ACCIDENTS
(ALL ACCIDENTS)

LOCAL REPORT AR 385-40

PROCEDURES REPORTED AND
REPORTED TO UNIT RECORDED IAW
SAFETY OFFICER OR ARMY PROCEDURES
INSTALLATION SAFETY
MINOR INJURY OR DAMAGE MEETS CRITERIA FOR
RECORDABLE ACCIDENT /
INCIDENT
Acdt Rpt 43
REPORTING vs. RECORDING
ARMY ACCIDENTS
• REPORTING - Report all accidents to the
unit safety officer / installation safety
office
• Local reporting procedures for:
• Property damage less than $2000
• Military personnel injury - no lost time /
restricted duty only
• Military personnel injury - first aid only

Acdt Rpt 44
 REPORTING vs. RECORDING
ARMY ACCIDENTS
RECORDING - Meets AR 385-40 criteria for
recordable accident / incident.
Investigation results are recorded on the
appropriate form and forwarded to USASC
for entry into Army accident database.
• Class A-D Accidents
• Class E & FOD Aviation
• Damage exceeds $2000
• Soldier injury results in 1 or more lost
workdays

Acdt Rpt 45
 CATEGORIES OF ACCIDENT
REPORTS
• SAFETY ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
REPORT - Used for prevention purposes
only
• Limited Use Report
• General Use Report
• COLLATERAL INVESTIGATION REPORT
- Used to determine accountability,
liability, claims, disciplinary action
• CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION (MP / CID)
Acdt Rpt 46
AR 385-40, 2-9, 1-7
 SAFETY ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
REPORTS
Limited Use Safety Accident
Investigation Report
• All flight accidents
• Fratricide / friendly fire
• Selected accidents involving other
complex weapons systems as
determined by Cdr, USASC

AR 385-40, 1-7 Acdt Rpt 47

 SAFETY ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
REPORTS
Limited Use Safety Accident
Investigation Report
• Report is for accident prevention
• May offer confidentiality to witness
• Findings, recommendations, and witness
statements not releasable to public or outside
DoD
• Purely factual information - pictures, drawings,
tests may be released / shared with collateral
investigator

Acdt Rpt 48
 SAFETY ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
REPORTS - AR 385-40, 1-7
General Use Safety Accident
Investigation Report
• USE - To record data concerning all
reportable accidents not covered by limited
use reports.
• Used for accident prevention
• Not for administrative or disciplinary action
within DoD
• Not generally releasable - need to know for
the purpose of accident prevention
• Witness statements not exempt from
disclosure in response to a request under
Acdt Rpt 49
 COLLATERAL INVESTIGATION
(NOT A SAFETY INVESTIGATION)
• USE - Record facts for use in litigation,
claims and administrative and disciplinary
actions
• Required on all on-duty Class A accidents
(LOD will suffice for off-duty fatality)
• Public Interest
• Safety personnel do not conduct, review, or
store collateral investigations.
• Accident investigation has priority
• Collateral investigation covered by: AR 27-
20 or AR 15-6
Acdt Rpt 50
AR 385-40, 1-8
 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION (MP / CID)
• MP / CID - Investigate to determine if
criminal activity is involved.
• Safety accident investigation board has
access to MP / CID evidence, photos,
witness statements
• Accident investigation will halt if criminal
activity is discovered. (Other than
negligence, dereliction of duty or
disobedience of an order)

AR 385-40, 4-7 Acdt Rpt 51

COMPLETING THE ACCIDENT
REPORT
DA PAM 385-40
Investigate /
Report
Army
Accidents
•DA 285 Army Accident
Report
•DA 285-AB-R Abbreviated
Ground Accident Report
Acdt Rpt 52
 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING
THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS:

WHAT WHY DID IT WHAT TO

HAPPENED? HAPPEN? DO ABOUT
CAUSE SYSTEM
FACTORS INADEQUACY / IT?
ROOT CAUSE
•HUMAN ERROR RECOMMENDATIONS
•SUPPORT
/ •LEADER FIXES
MISTAKE •TRAINING CONTROL MEASURES
•MATERIEL •STDS / COUNTERMEASURES
FAILURE PROCEDURES
•ENVIRONMENT •INDIVIDUAL
AL Acdt Rpt 53
FACTOR
 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING

Example of a completed AGAR form,

DA PAM 385-40, page 103-104

PRACTICAL EXERCISE #3

Acdt Rpt 54
 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING
• Purpose of accident investigation
• Define Army accident
• Accident investigation responsibilities
• Classification of accidents
• Reporting and Recording Army accidents
• Categories of investigation reports
• Reporting Procedures- AGAR
• Accident reporting terminology

Acdt Rpt 55
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING

QUESTIONS??

Acdt Rpt 56
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
AND REPORTING

PRACTICAL EXERCISE # 3
COMPLETING THE ACCIDENT
REPORT FORM

HOMEWORK DUE AT START

OF CLASS IN THE MORNING.

Acdt Rpt 57