Accident Investigation for

Supervisors

Introduction
Most Frequent OSHA Recordable Injuries/
Illnesses
Slips, trips and falls
Strains and sprains
Cuts
Struck by an object

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Objectives
Types of accidents
Causes or contributing factors of accidents
How to perform an accident investigation
What documentation should be completed

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Overview
The failure of people, equipment, supplies or
surroundings to behave or react as expected, causes
most of the accidents. Accident investigations
determine how and why these failures occur.
Accident investigations are a tool for department
supervisors and accident investigation teams to find
main causes of illnesses, injuries, and near misses
and to take corrective actions.

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Overview
Departments are encouraged to use Telesource
Activity Hazard Analysis & Incidents/Accident
Report Forms as a method of reducing hazards in
their areas.
The aim of an accident investigation should be to
prevent recurrence of the same accident.

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Definitions
Accident
An unplanned event that interrupts the completion of an
activity that may or may not result in personal injury,
illness or in property damage.

Near Miss
An unplanned event that interrupts the completion of an
activity which directly involves the workers and does
not result in personal injury, illness or in property
damage.

Accident Investigation
The process of determining the causes of accidents and
implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
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Types of Accidents
Minor Accidents
Accidents that cause minor injury/illness,
requiring little or no treatment, or property
damage.

Serious Accidents
Accidents that cause injury/illness or damage to
equipment and/or property. If the accident is
considered an OSHA recordable the accident is
serious.

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Outcomes of Accidents
Negative
Injury, illness, or death, property and equipment
damage, lost productivity, poor morale, and
$$$$$$.

Positive
Accident investigations
increase productivity, improve
awareness and prevent recurrence.

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operations,

raise

Causes and Contributing Factors

of Accidents
Accident Causation Model
Tasks
Material
Environment
Personnel
Management

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Accident Causation Model

MATERIAL
ENVIRONMENT
TASK

MANAGEMENT
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PERSONAL
10

(1) Task
Ergonomics

Safety work procedures

Condition changes
Process
Materials
Workers
Appropriate tools/materials
Safety devices (including lockout)
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(2) Material
Equipment failure
Machinery design/guarding
Hazardous substances
Substandard material

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(3) Environment
Weather conditions

Housekeeping
Temperature

Lighting
Air contaminants
Personal protective equipment

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(4) Human Factor

Level of experience

Level of training
Physical capability

Health
Fatigue
Stress

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(5) Management/Process
Failure
Visible active senior management support for
safety
Safety policies
Enforcement of safety policies

Adequate supervision
Knowledge of hazards
Hazard corrective action

Preventive maintenance
Regular audits
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Who Should Perform the

Accident Investigation?
Dependent on the severity
Person involved
Supervisor
Environmental Health and Safety

The advantage of having a supervisor perform the

investigation is that the supervisor is likely to be the
most knowledgeable about the work, the persons
involved, and the current conditions.
The supervisor can also take immediate remedial
action.
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Steps in an Accident
Investigation
1.
2.
3.
4.

Initial Response
Information Gathering
Analysis and Conclusion
Accident Investigation Report

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Step 1 - Initial Response

After an accident occurs, the initial response
should be as follows:
Get treatment for individuals that may be
injured.
Assure the safety of others.
Secure the site.
Complete the Injury/Illness Reporting Form.

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Step 2 Information Gathering

Inspect the accident site and note information such as:
Positions of injured workers
Equipment and materials being used
Safety devices in use
Position on appropriate guards
Positions of controls of machinery
Damage to equipment
Housekeeping of the area
Weather conditions
Lighting levels
Noise levels
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Step 2 Information Gathering

Gather information
On procedures and rules for the area
On maintenance records and equipment
involved
By taking photographs and making diagrams
and
From employees

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Step 2 Information Gathering

Interview
Injured person or persons
Witnesses
Supervisors

The purpose of the interview is to establish an

understanding with the witness and to obtain in his
or her own words what happened.

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Step 2 Information Gathering

Interview Dos
Put the witness, who is probably upset, at ease
Emphasize the real reason for the investigation, to
determine what happened and why
Let the witness talk, listen
Confirm that you have the statement correct
Try to sense any underlying feelings of the witness
Make short notes only during the interview
Ask open ended questions

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Step 2 Information Gathering

Interview Do Nots
Intimidate the witness
Interrupt
Prompt
Ask leading questions
Show your own emotions
Make lengthy notes while the witness is talking

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Step 2 Information Gathering

Ask Who? What? Where? When? How?
Conduct interviews separately
Make it clear that the investigation is used
to avoid recurrence and not to place blame

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Step 3 Analysis and Conclusion

Isolate contributory factors
Would the accident have occurred if this particular
factor was not present?

Determine
Why the accident occurred
A likely sequence of events and probably causes

Accident Tree

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Step 3 Analysis and Conclusion

Draw
conclusions
and
make
recommendations based on key contributing
factors and causes.
Implement corrective actions and set a time
table to complete them.

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Step 4 Telesource Accident

Investigation Report
Statement of injured or ill
employee concerning the
incident and injured
employee information
Witness statements
Equipment involved
Other factors or
contributing causes
Corrective action plan
Tab 4
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Summary
What are the different types of accidents?
What causes or contributes to accidents?
How do you perform an accident
investigation?
What documentation should be completed?

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