Laserfiche WebLink
<br />12 <br />Accident Investigation <br />Procedures for investigating workplace accidents, hazardous substance exposures, <br />and near misses include: <br />1. Interviewing injured workers and witnesses; <br />2. Examining the workplace for factors associated with the accident/exposure; <br />3. Determining the most probable cause of the accident/exposure; <br />4. Taking corrective action to prevent the accident/exposure from re-occurring; <br />and <br />5. Recording the findings and actions taken. It should not be to affix blame. <br />Each contributing factor should be traced back to its root cause. A written report <br />that describes the accident and its causes and recommendations for corrective <br />action and prevention will be prepared and presented to management. <br /> <br />The ultimate goal of the investigation is to determine the basic and root causes and <br />to determine appropriate corrective action so the incident does not happen again. <br />To simply attribute an accident to “employee error,” without further consideration of <br />the basic causes, deprives the organization of the opportunity to take real preventive <br />action. Possible use of engineering controls, improved work practices and <br />administrative controls should be considered to help employees do their jobs safely. <br />Management practices may also be considered as a possible basic factor. For <br />example, if there is managerial or supervisory pressure to increase production or cut <br />costs, employees may take unsafe shortcuts in work procedures or delay or skip <br />necessary preventive maintenance. <br /> <br />The Accident/Injury Investigation Form (Form SP 10) may be used. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />