Accident investigation and recording

Use of a suitable standard report form allows the collection of information in a uniform way. The design of the report form is important. As the forms will usually be completed at site level it will assist site staff if they are only asked to give information which is likely to be readily available to them -social security numbers and other personnel information may be restricted, or held elsewhere. The penalty for using a format calling for answers that site staff cannot provide can be delays in the return of forms. Whatever detail is asked for, and whatever the final design of a report form, it will be helpful to require at least those answers to be given which are required by local or national authorities, when notifying them in turn. 

This Is because the form may be required as evidence In legal proceedings, where liability Is an Issue and statements of this type may be found to constitute an admission of liability where none was Intended. 

Speed is of the essence it may be desirable to design an initial report form to be faxed to senior management as soon as practicable, to be followed by a more detailed report when time and circumstances permit. The detail may be completed later, following a deeper investigation and Interviews with witnesses. 

The use of a standard layout in a typed report can assist the investigator, because it can help to clarify thought. A suitable format for a written report is discussed later in this chapter. 

Summary analysis forms used by the data collector 

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Figure 7.7 Sample accident investigation and record keeping statements.

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