Investigating Workplace Injuries

Cause Mapping

Problem Solving Incident Investigation Root Cause Analysis

Investigating
Workplace Injuries

Angela Griffith, P.E.

webinars@thinkreliability.com
www.thinkreliability.com
Office 281-412-7766
Houston, TX

Investigating Workplace Injuries

Overview
What?
Work-related injuries are injuries or illnesses that
occur in relation to an employees job (arises out
of and in the course of employment)
Reportable injuries per OSHA if result in death,
days away from work, restricted work or transfer,
medical treatment beyond first aid, loss of
consciousness

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Investigating Workplace Injuries

So what?
4,679 fatal work injuries (highest since 2011); 3.3
per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers (FTW)
(continued decrease)
Nearly 3 million nonfatal workplace injuries and
illnesses reported by private industry employers in
2014 (54,000 fewer than 2013); 722,300 public
Rate of 3.2 cases per 100 FTW (0.1 fewer) for
private industry; 5.2 for public sector

Nonfatal lost work injuries per BLS (2014)

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Investigating Workplace Injuries

Violence:
4

Injuries & illnesses with high incidence rates for

selected occupations per BLS (2014)

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Investigating Workplace Injuries

Most Common Industries

Overexertion
Transportation/ warehousing, construction,
educational/ healthcare, social assistance

Contact Injuries
Construction, agriculture, transportation,
waste remediation, healthcare, food service

Slips, Trips & Falls

Construction, healthcare, public administration

Overexertion:
Sprains, strains, tears (leading injuries)
39 cases per 10,000 full time workers
36.4% of all injuries/ illnesses
Median days away from work: 10
Overexertion leading nature of injury
36 cases per 10,000 FTW
33.2% of injuries & illnesses
Median days away from work: 13

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Investigating Workplace Injuries

Workplace Injuries Overexertion Injuries

Step 2. Analysis (Cause Map)
Employee
lifting xx
pounds

Performing
task

AND

Assistance not
available
Safety Goal
Impacted

Strain, muscle
injury

Overexertion
(stress >
strength)

AND
Inadequate
equipment
Inadequate
lifting
capability

OR

Incorrect
lifting method

Contact Injuries:
Cuts, lacerations, punctures
9 cases per 10,000 FTW (8.2% injuries)
Median days away from work: 3
Bruises, contusions
9 cases per 10,000 FTW (8.4% injuries)
Median days away from work: 5
Chemical and thermal burns
1.8 cases per 10,000 FTW
Median days away from work: 4

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Investigating Workplace Injuries

Workplace Injuries Contact Injuries

Employee in
area

Step 2. Analysis (Cause Map)

Contact with
an object/
material/
energy

AND

Safety Goal
Impacted

Burn,
laceration,
bruise,
contamination

AND
Object/
material/
energy in area

Inadequate
personal
protective
equipment

AND
Object/
material/
energy
hazardous

Slips, Trips & Falls:

27.4% of injuries & illnesses
Slips, trips without fall
4 cases per 10,000 FTW
Median days away from work: 10
Fall on same level
19 cases per 10,000 FTW
Median days away from work: 10
Fall to lower level
5 cases per 10,000 FTW
Median days away from work: 19

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Investigating Workplace Injuries

Workplace Injuries Slips, Trips & Falls

Step 2. Cause Map

Employee
slips

AND/OR
Employee
slips, trips,
falls

Employee trips

AND/OR
Safety Goal
Impacted

Broken bone,
bruise, loss of
consciousness

Employee
strikes floor,
other object

AND

Employee
unbalanced on
moving
equipment

Inadequate
hold on
equipment

Workplace Injuries Slips, Trips & Falls

Step 2. Cause Map
Area slippery

AND

Employee
slips

Inadequate
traction on
shoes ?

AND

Employee in
area

Performing
task ?

OR

Going through
area ?

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Investigating Workplace Injuries

Workplace Injuries Slips, Trips & Falls

Step 2. Cause Map
Object in
walking path

AND

Employee trips

Employee
unable to see
object ?

Employee
carrying too
many objects
?

OR
Employee not
paying
attention ?
Performing
task ?

AND
Employee in
area

OR
Going through
area ?

Workplace Injuries Slips, Trips & Falls

Step 2. Cause Map
Required as
part of task ?
Employee
riding on
moving
equipment
Employee
unbalanced on
moving
equipment

AND

OR
Employee
using
equipment as
transport ?

Inadequate
safety devices
used ?

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Investigating Workplace Injuries

Workplace Injuries Slips, Trips & Falls

Step 2. Cause Map

Safety
equipment
unavailable ?
Inadequate
hold on
equipment

OR

Employee
unable to use
safety
equipment ?

Employee
carrying too
many objects
in hand

Workplace Injuries
Step 3. Solutions

Why is the task performed this way?

Why was the employee there?
What hazards are there?
What PPE is needed/ used?
Minimize impact of unsafe behaviors

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