Properly conducted accident investigations analyze and eradicate the hazards that cause accidents. Investigations also educate and motivate to prevent future incidents.
Accidents happen. Despite your best efforts, zero accident policies, and well-trained employees, things sometimes go wrong. So what happens after an accident or near miss happens in your facility is a question you have to be ready to answer at a moment’s notice.
Investigations, Step By Step
When an accident occurs, you have to find all the causes quickly to prevent another similar incident. Here’s the step-by-step accident investigation procedure recommended by OSHA:
1. Secure the site and make sure it will be left undisturbed (unless, of course an immediate hazard must be dealt with.
2. Define the scope of the investigation.
3. Select the investigators, assigning specific tasks to each, preferably in writing.
4. Present a preliminary briefing to the investigation team. It should include a description of the accident, normal operating procedures, relevant maps, the location of the accident site, a list of witnesses, and events that preceded the accident.
5. Visit the accident site to get updated information.
6. Inspect the site, preparing and labeling appropriate sketches and photographs.
7. Interview each victim and witness.
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8. Determine what was not normal before the accident, where the abnormality occurred, when it was first noted, and how it occurred.
9. Analyze the data obtained in step 8 and repeat any prior steps if necessary.
10. Determine why the accident occurred, a likely sequence of events and probable causes, and possible alternative sequences.
11. Check each sequence against the data from step 8.
12. Determine the most likely sequence of events and the most probable causes.
13. Conduct a post-investigation briefing.
14. Prepare and distribute a summary report, including recommended actions to prevent a recurrence.
According to OSHA, an investigation is not complete until all data are analyzed and a final report prepared. To some degree, the investigative work, data analysis, and report preparation proceed simultaneously.
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