CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Topic: WORK-RELATED ACCIDENT

INVESTIGATION AND REPORTING
Duration :

90 minutes

WORK-RELATED ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

AND REPORTING

General contents:
Standard definitions of terms used n accident
investigation and reporting
How to conduct a work-accident investigation
Factual requirements of a work-accident
investigation
Statistical analysis of accident rates
Providing recommendations to prevent
reoccurrence
Requirements for work-accident reporting

AGENDA

Objectives
Introduction
Reasons to conduct accident investigation
Accidents that should be reported and
investigated
Persons making the investigation
Investigation Preplanning
Evidence

AGENDA

Witness Interviews and Statements

Parts
Records, Collection and Examination
Reenactment
Human factors in accident causation
Cause analysis and determination
Accident Reports and Remedial Action
Accident Record Form

OBJECTIVES

To determine the causes of

accidents.
To recommend an appropriate
corrective actions.

INTRODUCTION

Accident investigation is a necessary and

effective technique for preventing
recurring or future accidents. Thorough
accident investigation can point out the
problem area within the organization.

Accident investigation should be aimed at

fact finding, rather than faultfinding;
otherwise, the investigation may do harm
than good.

Reasons to conduct accident

investigation

To prevent recurrence.
To comply with polices and regulatory
requirements.
To improve the supervisors
management approach.
To maintain employee awareness of
the importance of safe and healthy
work habits.

Accidents that should be reported

& investigated

5 consecutive first aid cases per week

Medical treatment cases
Lost work cases
Fatality
Property damage
Environmental damage
Including near misses

PERSONS MAKING THE INVESTIGATION

Type A
Supervisor or Foreman
Safety Engineer
Type B
Safety Committee Members
Type C
Team Director
Investigation Coordinator
Safety Professional
Operations, Engineering, Personnel and other
Managers
Specialist Investigators

INVESTIGATION PREPLANNING

Investigative preplanning process

Establish the objectives for

investigation with upper management
guidance.
Develop guidelines of the activities to
be included in programming priorities
for steps in investigation.

INVESTIGATION PREPLANNING
(Investigative preplanning process
contd.)

Prepare detailed courses of action;

scheduling and budgeting of resources
available.
Develop the necessary procedures as
tools to implement the selected courses
of action.

STAGES TO CONSIDER IN PLANNING

Before an accident occurs

Contact of emergency services

(medical/hospital, fire, police, gas and
electric utilities, water, etc.)

Shutdown of equipment unless it must

be operating to preclude further loss.

STAGES TO CONSIDER IN PLANNING

On discovery of an accident

Notification of management personnel.

Notification of regulatory agencies as
required by public laws.
Public news releases and statements to
members of the press.
Security and investigative tools &
equipment.

STAGES TO CONSIDER IN PLANNING

On arrival at the accident scene or site

Rescue of the injured or endangered.

Reduce risk of further injury or damages
to control loss.
Identify elements involved. Initiate the
reporting and investigation of the
accident.
Preserve evidence for investigation.

STAGES TO CONSIDER IN PLANNING

After the emergency is under control

Interface with other investigation

prescribed by public law
Systematic preservation, collection
and examination of evidence.
Special briefings for investigators
and specialized assistants.

INVESTIGATION KITS
Administrative items

Notebook
Clipboard & note pads
Plastic bag
Envelopes
Aluminum foil
Paper toweling
Adhesive labels
Crayon
Orange spray paint
Tags

INVESTIGATION KITS
Tools

Camera
Flashlight
Tape Measure
Scale & Protractor
Inspection Mirrors
Toothbrush
Nails, Rope & Caution Tape

INVESTIGATION KITS
Personal Protective Equipment and medical
supply for investigators
Water
First Aid Kit
Hard Hat
Protective Glasses
Flagmans Orange Vest
Gloves
Ear Plugs/Muffs

EVIDENCE
Important sources of evidence:

Positions of people.
Positions of equipment.
Positions of materials.
Physical parts of environment at the accident site.

Position evidence:

Diagrams
Maps
Sketches
Photographs

WITNESS INTERVIEWS AND

STATEMENTS

Controlling distortion of testimony

Separate the witness.

Ask them to prepare initial statement
using the form and maps of the accident
while others are being interviewed.

WITNESS INTERVIEWS AND

STATEMENTS
INFLUENCE OF WITNESS PERSONALITY

Extroverts- will appear very convincing

witnesses. But their evidence may not be as
correct as it appears.

Introverts - will appear as poor witnesses.

Interviewing them may seem a waste of time, but
they might have the most important information.

Suspicious - will be reluctant to get involved.

They hate publicity, guard their privacy and
resent being questioned.

WITNESS INTERVIEWS AND

STATEMENTS
(Influence of witness personality)

Illiterate witnesses - may appear timid and

hesitant, to cover their illiteracy, or decline
to give a statement for this reason. They
will need compassion & patience to draw
out their testimonies.

Prejudiced witnesses - are

psychologically ill suited to give
testimony.

Influence of witness personality

(Influence of witness personality)

Intoxicated or drugged witnesses - should be

listened to, but re-interviewed in full when sober.
Juvenile witnesses - can give very objective
evidence.
Excitable witnesses - tend to exaggerate,
elaborate and distort evidence.
Know-nothing witnesses - are the ones
identified as prime witnesses who insist they do
not know and did not see anything.

WITNESS INTERVIEWS AND

STATEMENTS
(Influence of witness personality)

Devious witnesses - may distort their

testimonies to avoid personal implication
or unfavorable reflection on an associate.

Injured witnesses - should generally not

be questioned until after they have
received medical treatment.

WITNESS INTERVIEWS AND

STATEMENTS

Promptness essential for valid information

The validity of many aspects of an

investigation is highest when the
investigative actions start immediately
after the accident occurs.

WITNESS INTERVIEWS AND

STATEMENTS
Finding the witnesses to interview
Prompt arrival at the scene of an
accident is of great benefit to most
investigators.

Transient witnesses.

Workers in adjacent section.

WITNESS INTERVIEWS AND

STATEMENTS
(Finding the witnesses to interview)

Area residents.

Municipal or personnel.

Each witness may be able to identify

others and should be so questioned.

News reporters may have found

witnesses and have names already
asked them.

WITNESS INTERVIEWS AND STATEMENTS

Influence Investigators Personality

Commanding type investigators may frighten the

witnesses into silence by their officious manner.

Proud, overly confident investigators,

overestimate their personal abilities to obtain
information.

Overly eager investigators induce errors &

contradictions in evidence given in testimony
through tendencies toward excessive
questions

WITNESS INTERVIEWS AND

STATEMENTS
(Influence Investigators Personality)

Timid investigators appear to the

witnesses as willing to grab the least bit of
information and run with it they feel the
investigator will never have the courage to
identify basic causes to management.

Prejudiced investigators react to aspect of

the witnesses dress and mannerism. They
have little chance of success in the
investigation.

WITNESS INTERVIEWS AND

STATEMENTS
The interview process:
- investigator to survey the accident
scene and environment to get the
big picture of the accident.

WITNESS INTERVIEWS AND STATEMENTS

Setting up the interview;

Select place

Establishing communication with the

witnesses

Taking initial information

Expanding the interview for details

WITNESS INTERVIEWS AND

STATEMENTS
(Setting up the interview;)

Evaluating credibility

Closing the interview

Recording the witness testimony

Evaluating the witness testimony

Nonverbal communication

Feedback to the witness

PARTS EVIDENCE

Parts evidence is analyzed for defect,

misfit, malfunction and faulty design.

Removal of parts for testing and

examination is a controlled, methodical
process.

Careful removal of parts essential to

avoid investigative action damage.

PARTS EVIDENCE

Cleaning for further examination.

Avoid destruction of evidence during

examination.

Wrapping and tagging parts for

preservation and examination.

Fluid parts require special care in

removal and examination.

RECORDS REFLECTING HAZARD

ANALYSIS DECISIONS

Proper Job Analysis.

Systems Safety Analysis.

Condition or Hazard Reports.

Employee suggestions on safety and loss

potentials.

Repair of previous mechanical failure.

Inspections.

Previous accidents.

RECORDS REFLECTING
CONSTRUCTION OF THE WORK
ENVIRONMENT

Building blueprints and design

specifications.

Work section layout chart.

Road or topographic maps.

Job specification drawings for

construction projects.

Construction progress photographs

taken at various stages of building.

RECORDS REFLECTING CONSTRUCTION OF

THE WORK ENVIRONMENT

Equipment manufactures installation

manuals, parts listings, modification
directions & maintenance checklists or
specifications.

Building controls.

Building materials manufacturers

specifications and quality control criteria.

Equipment installation, test, acceptance

and maintenance records.

EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS PURCHASING

RECORDS

Regulatory standards.

Work proposals to develop, fabricate or

change products.

Management specifications to purchasing.

Purchase orders, contracts and invoices.

Documents that reflect proposed changes

and substitutions.

Records of acceptance.

RECORDS OF FACILITY & EQUIPMENT CARE

Critical parts inspection.

General preventive maintenance.

Damage and deterioration repairs and

replacements.

PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT RECORDS

Supervisor selection or hiring.

Supervisor management and safety

management training.

Supervisor appraisal.

Employee application for employment.

Employee physical and mental attitude

examinations.

PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT RECORDS

Employee company and job orientation.

Employee skills training.

Employee follow-up or enrichment

training.

Employee skills certification.

Employee appraisal & counseling.

REENACTMENT

When information about the actions or

sequence of events cannot be obtained
in any other way.

When price, step-by- step observations

are needed to develop preventive,
remedial action.

When key facts from witnesses are

conflicting and need to be verified for
analysis.

HUMAN FACTORS IN ACCIDENT

CAUSATION

Factors regarding the physical aspects

(size & movement).

Factors regarding the physiological

(stresses & limits).

Factors regarding psychological nature

and stress limits.

CAUSE ANALYSIS & DETERMINATION

Refer to loss causation model.

See attached sample of FTA & ETA.

FTA of example #1 (Go to APPENDIX B)

FTA of example #1 (cont.) (Go to APPENDIX
B-1)
ETA of example #1 (Go to APPENDIX C)
FTA of example #2 (Go to APPENDIX D)
ETA of example #2 (Go to APPENDIX E)

ACCIDENT REPORTS REMEDIAL

ACTION

General report form contents.

Location
Time of occurrence
Identification of primary people involved
Description of accident
Type of accident/ incident
Analysis of causes
Evaluation of potential severity and frequency
Remedial action plan for prevention
Follow-up to action plan

ACCIDENT RECORD FORMS

The End