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Accident Investigation

Principal Author / Publisher:Safetyhow Admin
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Even the best safety inspection won’t guarantee your workplace to be 100% accident
free. So, when accidents do occur, it is essential that an accident investigation procedure
be in place steps taken to prevent the same incident from reoccurring.

An accident investigation should be applied every time an accident occurs, regardless of
its severity.

The purpose of the accident investigation is to determine the direct cause of the incident
and to prevent similar occurrences by documenting facts and reinforcing the joint
employer-employee commitment to safety in the workplace. Identifying the causal or
contributing factors in a workplace accident provides the opportunity for these facts to be
evaluated in order that corrective actions may be taken.
General steps to follow in an Accident Investigation:
• Survey the scene
• Gather the evidence - photos, interviews
• Analyze the information
• Recommend changes
• Follow-up
When an accident occurs, the investigator must act quickly. No two situations are alike,
but normally the following is correct.

A. Attend to the injured employee.
B. Assess accident scene to determine if it is safe to enter.
C. Secure the accident scene.
D. Notify your immediate supervisor.
The amount of action will depend on the severity of the accident. Follow established
company procedure. Begin your investigation as soon as possible.

Be objective -- Don’t let emotions or your own opinions cloud your
investigation. Proceed as follows:

A. Interview everyone who saw or was involved in the accident, including the victim
(may have to be done at a later date). Use this procedure:

a. Put them at ease -- explain that you are finding facts -- not fault.

b. Interview “on the spot” -- if possible.

c. Interview each person separately -- group interviews create confusion.

d. Encourage the person to tell “what they saw.”

e. Ask open-ended questions: “Why? What? Where? When? Who? How?”

f. Repeat the story back for confirmation.

g. End on a positive note.

h. Keep the pipeline open. Some people will remember important facts later.

B. Observe the accident scene -- Look for obvious defects in equipment, tools, and the
object causing the injury. In some cases photos or drawings may help.

C. Record critical information promptly -- don’t delay. Use a prepared form to help
remember key questions.

D. Gather facts, not opinions. Use them to identify activities that contributed to the
accident.

E. Make conclusions based on facts and knowledge, not suppositions


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