Core Module 3

OBJECTIVE As a means to improve the accident investigation capabilities of first-line supervisors, this Module has been structured to explain the purpose of accident investigation, why accidents are investigated, the benefits of accident investigation and the criteria for conducting an effective investigation. EXPECTED RESULTS Through the use of this Module, you will be able to conduct effective accident investigations. You will understand the purpose of accident investigation is PREVENTION. You will understand you have intrinsic qualifications which put you in a special position for conducting the investigation. And, you will understand that by asking pertinent questions, sufficient information will be gathered to enable you to determine the cause of the accident and thereby allow you to implement proper corrective measures to prevent a recurrence. PROGRAM INSTRUCTIONS 1. Read the Accident Investigation portion of the Module to include: Purpose of Accident Investigation Why Investigate Accidents Benefits of Accident Investigations Criteria for Conducting the Accident Investigation Interviewing 2. Review Accident Report form and sample investigation report 3. Read the summary and answer the questions in the Review section.

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OUTLINE 1.0 PURPOSE OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION 2.0 WHY SUPERVISORS INVESTIGATE ACCIDENTS 2.1 Knows situation 2.2 Has personal interest 2.3 Can take immediate action 2.4 Can communicate with employee 3.0 BENEFITS OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION 3.1 Need for prompt action 3.2 Minimize lost production 3.3 Evidence of supervisor skill 3.4 Shows supervisor in control 4.0 CRITERIA FOR CONDUCTING ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION 5.0 INTERVIEWING 5.1 Put worker at ease 5.2 Conduct interview at scene of accident 5.3 Ask for his/her version of accident 5.4 Ask only necessary questions 5.5 Repeat story 5.6 Close on positive note 6.0 REVIEWING THE ACCIDENT REPORT FORM 7.0 SUMMARY 8.0 REFERENCES

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As a front-line supervisor, you have the responsibility to maintain a safe and healthful work environment for those employees in you area. As part of that responsibility, you will at times be required to conduct accident investigations. The following procedure has been designed to help you understand and conduct accident investigations as efficiently and effectively as possible. You will learn the purpose of accident investigation, why accident must be investigated, and examples of how accidents should be investigated. Throughout our industrial history much has been written explaining the importance and purpose of accident investigation, but for the first-line supervisor they can all be summarized in one word - PREVENTION. An accident may be described as "any UNDESIRED event which may or does result in personal injury and/or property damage." Being "undesired" makes it something that must be prevented whenever possible. When investigating accidents, care should be taken to distinguish between "purpose" and "benefits." "Benefit" is what you get from investigating accidents, but the "purpose" is why you do it. You will discover there are many benefits to accident investigation, but only one purpose-PREVENTION.

 

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Investigating accidents is the responsibility of all levels of management and a concern of every employee, but as a supervisor you are in a unique position to give special priority and responsibility to the function. As a first-line supervisor in the area where an accident happens, you have special qualifications and advantages other members of management may not have. As a first-line supervisor: 2.1 You know the most about the situation. You have daily contact with your employees and you are familiar with the practices and procedures in the area, as well as the hazards. 2.2 You have a personal interest in identifying accident causes. These are your people, your machines and your materials. Accident investigation, therefore, enables you to focus on those conditions and hazards that could endanger your employees, machines and materials. 2.3 You can take immediate action to prevent recurrence of accidents. Being in direct control of your area gives you the advantage of taking immediate corrective actions and the best opportunity for follow-up. 2.4 You can communicate more effectively with the employee. Workers may be "employed" by the company, but they work for you. They need to know you are interested in them and their safety. In accident investigations, the employee can "tell it like it is" to their supervisor.

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As mentioned earlier, there are many ways you benefit from prompt and thorough accident investigation. The following is not meant to be all inclusive, but does list some of the major benefits. 3.1 Prompt and thorough accident investigation makes employees feel you are genuinely concerned for them. Employees not only expect, but need, a supervisor who looks out for their best interests. 3.2 Effective accident investigation minimizes lost productive time due to recurring accidents. 3.3 Prompt and thorough accident investigation is evidence of a supervisor's ability and efficiency and may be an integral part of performance evaluations. 3.4 Effective accident investigations and prompt corrective action shows you are in control. It is important that employees feel their supervisor can handle things.

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Accident investigation must be conducted as soon after the accident as possible. The less time that elapses between accident and investigation, the better the information that can be obtained. Facts are cleared, more details are remembered, and conditions are nearest those at the time of the accident. The accident investigation will be your analysis and account of the accident based on data gathered by examination of all facts, opinions, statements, and related information. One of the best ways to gather this information is through the use of the "W5H" questions. Why, what, where, when and how. The W5H Formula can help in relating questions about the accident situation to needed actions.

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Normally, the first person you would question about an accident is the accident victim. There are certain proven techniques used for successful interview of any kind, and which you may already be familiar with. They are certainly important enough to repeat. 5.1 Put the worker at ease. Remind the person being interviewed that the sole purpose of the accident investigation to to prevent a recurrence of the accident and not to fix blame and you can do this only with their help. 5.2 Conduct the interview at the accident scene. This will help the victim/witness to explain and you to understand. Make the interview as private as possible. This will not only make the victim/witness more relaxed, but prevents their observations and ideas from being influenced by others. 5.3 Ask for his/her version of the accident. Make sure you stress that you want their version of what happened just as they remember it. Let them tell the story. Do not interrupt to clarify, interpret, or evaluate. If there is something you do not understand, wait until they are finished, then ask questions. Above all, do not make judgments. This will place the person being interviewed on the defensive and defeat the purpose of the interview. 5.4 Ask only those questions that are necessary. Limit your questions to facts. Ask open-ended questions whenever possible, such as, "What pressure readings do you remember?" Stay clear of questions with a "yes" or "no" response. Always ask questions in a friendly, constructive manner. Ask "why" questions only after all other information requires this exploration. These questions tend to put the employee on the defensive. 5.5 Repeat the story as you understand it. This will assure correct understanding by allowing the employee to be sure you understood what was meant (not just what was being said). 5.6 Close the interview on a positive note - PREVENTION. Discuss actions that may be taken to prevent the accident from happening again. Before ending the interview, check all information to be sure nothing has been left out. Let the employee help in developing recommendations to prevent the recurrence of a similar accident.

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Although accident report forms may vary, the information they require is fairly standard. Years of experience have shown that for an accident investigation to be effective, certain facts are needed. As discussed earlier, one of the best ways to gather facts in an accident investigation is through the use of the W5H questions. The answers to those questions will form the basis for the effective completion of the accident report form. It should be remembered that an accident report form is just what the name implies, a report of the facts gathered during the actual investigation. The accident report form is not used to investigate the accident, but is completed as a record of the accident investigation. As a supervisor, you will be completing injury/illness reports for all accidents involving recordable injuries/illness reports for all accidents involving recordable injuries/illnesses, or for accidents which have the potential for serious injury, illness or property damage. Injury/Illness Report forms vary in different organizations to capture unique information which may be required. But, there are some common questions which are included on nearly all forms used to investigate an accident. A sample blank form and completed form is included for your information. If possible, use your location's Injury/Illness Report form in the next portion to review the different segments which make it up. The first step in completing the form is to enter the basic information concerning location, time and person injured. The narrative portion of the report will make use of all information gathered during the actual investigation. Description of incident which resulted in injury or illness: This is the section where you explain the what, when, who and how of the accident from the information you have gathered. Result of incident: Here you must detail where the victim was injured. What were the injuries and to what extent do they affect the victim. Basic Cause: Explain fully in light of any Unsafe Act, Condition or Personal Factor. This portion of the narrative is asking that important question why did the accident happen. The focus here should be on the one cause which most directly cause the resulting accident to occur. Contributory Causes: Other significant factors which helped set up the conditions for the accident to occur, even though they were not the direct cause. Corrective measures taken or recommended: Here you are asked to explain what has been done to prevent a recurrence of the accident and how the recommendations or corrective measures are to be accomplished. Finally, the form is signed by the employee's direct supervisor who should also be the person who did the investigation. It is then reviewed by his or her superior.

Sample Accident Report Form

Sample Typical Accident Report

As accident investigation is an integral part of a first-line supervisor's responsibilities, it is important he or she is able to conduct an effective investigation. This Module has been designed to develop and strengthen the supervisor's skill in performing those investigations as follows: Although there may be many benefits to accident investigation, there is only one purpose - PREVENTION. The supervisor has unique qualifications over other members of management in conducting the investigation. As the Accident Investigation is an analysis of facts, one of the best ways to gather these facts is through the use of the "W5H" questions. Why, who, what, where, when and how? Having complete the investigation, it is important that a record be made of the facts obtained during the investigation.

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8.1 Injury/Illness Report Form 8.2 W5H Formula - A guide for getting the facts

  

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Review Test for Core Module 3

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