Accident Investigation: Preventing the Next Accident

When you can't prevent an accident, you have to investigate so that you can prevent the next accident.

Most workplace safety and health programs follow the same basic route for preventing job accidents:

·         Inspections

·         Hazard analysis

·         Correction of known hazards

·         Establishment of safety rules and procedures

·         Employee training and education

There is, of course, another important element—accident investigations. To prevent future accidents, you have to understand today's accidents.

Here's a quick review of accident investigations from start to finish:

Conduct the investigation promptly.Schedule an immediate on-site investigation before the trail "gets cold." Good investigators are trained in data gathering, problem identification, cause analysis, and action planning. Be open-minded.

Have your investigation kit ready for action.

Some of the important items include:

·         Camera and film

·         Incident report forms, clipboards, and pens

·         Barricade tape to block off the accident area

·         Flashlight, in case the lighting is inadequate

·         Measuring tape to determine distances

·         Personal protective equipment (PPE), as appropriate

Survey the scene. Make sure that your fact-finding presents a complete and accurate picture of just what happened.

Get the facts. Talk to those involved and those who witnessed the accident. Don’t play the blame game! Emphasize that the purpose of the investigation is PREVENTION!

Analyze your findings. Review the facts. Read the description of the accident and events leading up to it. If this was a routine situation, consider any factor that was unusual on that particular day. To phrase it another way: What was not normal? What went wrong? Consider all the possibilities.

Identify causes. Identify the immediate cause—person, place, or thing. Very often this is the easy part. List contributing factors—there may be several. List underlying root causes. Were any factors completely unpredictable?

Report your findings and recommendations to the Safety Department.  Summarize the facts of the accident and events leading up to it. Make recommendations to reduce future risks. List immediate corrective actions.