Accident investigations, workplace report

Reporting and collection of data on accident risks by means of accident and near-accident investigations, workplace inspections, SHE audits and risk analyses. Methods of data collection include observation, interviews, self-reporting, group discussions, electronic registration, etc. 

When we design a database on accidents and near accidents, we also have to consider what other types of data we may want to store in later developments of the database. In the end, we may, for example, be interested in integrating data from accident and near-accident investigations with reports on unsafe conditions, nonconformities, workplace inspections, risk analysis and SHE audits in a common database. 

All 41 accident investigation reports contained preconditions of unsafe acts as contributing factors. However, only sevenreports identified SrdTier factors of 1st Tier category Unsafe supervision/workplace factors and 16 accident reports contained 3rd Tier factors of 1 st Tier category Organizational influences . 

Organizations can use a variety of processes to analyze workplace hazards and accident causal factors. Hazard evaluations and accident trend analysis can help improve the effectiveness of established hazard controls. Routine analysis enables an organization to develop and implement appropriate controls for hazardous processes or unsafe operations. Analysis processes rely on information collected from hazard surveys, inspections, hazard reports, and accident investigations. This analysis process can provide a snapshot of hazard information. Effective analysis can then take the snapshots and create viable pictures of hazards and accident causal factors. 

A review made by this author of a variety of accident investigation reports (not limited to machinery) concluded that there were implications of workplace and work methods design inadequacies in over 35 percent of cases. To reduce serious injury and fatality potential, this author proposes that prevention through design be established as a... 

The written safety and health program establishes procedures and responsibilities for the identification and correction of workplace hazards. The following activities can be nsed to identify and control workplace hazards hazard reporting system, jobsite inspections, accident investigation, and expert audits. 

In action research, scientists participate in the introduction of changes in the SHE information system of a company. They evaluate how these changes affect the behaviour of its organisation and the company s accident rates. Many studies report reductions in accident rates following the introduction of such measures as improved accident investigation and workplace inspection routines and introduction of near-accident reporting (Adams et al., 1981 Menckel, 1990 Komaki et al., 1978). 

In our model of a SHE information system in Chapter 1, we identified four different subsystems, i.e. data collection, data analysis or processing, a memory and distribution of information. We will here first focus on the data-collection subsystem. Chapter 12 presents an overview and Chapters 13 and 14 give details about different methods of data collection in accident and near-accident reporting and investigation, workplace inspections and SHE audits. We will then proceed in Chapter 15 to go through some basic principles for the establishment of a memory (database) on accident risks. After that, we will review different methods for data analysis based on data from accidents and near-accidents in particular. In practice, it is not always easy to separate data collection from data analysis or processing, because these activities often interact. 

Are there adequate routines for accident and near-accident reporting and investigations, workplace inspections, job-safety analyses ... 

By carrying out safety inspections the condition of the workplace and the ongoing activities of employees are now measured against the accepted safety standards. Physical inspection of the workplace will highlight instances of property damage accidents and will trigger a follow-up on the control systems to ascertain if there has been a report and consequent investigation. 

Worksite analysis involves examining the workplace for existing and potential hazards. Comprehensive baseline and periodic safety and health surveys should be conducted. Job hazard analysis, accident, and near-miss investigations should also be held. Workers should be able to report unsafe conditions without fear of reprisal. Trends of illness and injury should be studied over time to identify patterns and prevent problems from recurring. 

Safety and health information means the establishment s fatality, injury, and illness history OSHA 200 logs workers compensation claims nurses logs the results of any medical screening or surveillance employee safety and health complaints and reports environmental and biological exposure data information from prior workplace safety and health inspections materials safety data sheets (MSDSs) the results of employee symptom surveys safety manuals and health and safety warnings provided to the employer by equipment manufacturers and chemical suppliers information about occupational safety and health provided to the employer by trade associations or professional safety or health organizations and the results of prior accident and incident investigations at the workplace. 

If you have only a few accidents and incidents, you might want to move down one step to examine near misses and first aid-related cases. It is only a matter of luck or timing that separates the near miss or first-aid event from becoming a serious, recordable, or reportable event. The truth is you probably have been lucky by seconds or inches. (A second later and a tool would have hit someone or an inch more and it would have cut off a finger.) Truly, it pays dividends to take time to investigate accidents and incidents occurring in the workplace. 

Are the feedback loops closed Are the routines for the reporting and investigation of accidents and near accidents and for the execution of workplace inspections and SHE audits adequate Are the results used in decisions to improve safety, and is there a follow-up of the implementation of the actions decided upon Does the company meet the requirements in relation to reporting to the authorities Have the routines been documented and are they known to the people concerned ... 

Efforts should be made to simplify the form for the registration of accidents and near accidents as far as possible. It is an important principle that the design of the form shall not create a barrier towards the reporting and investigation of accidents and near accidents. Some of the data are fed directly into the computer and need not show up on the form for the supervisor s first report. No specific form is needed for the in-depth investigations. Checklists should be developed to support the investigations. There are also other tools to be considered such as checklists and record sheets for use in workplace inspections, risk analyses and SHE audits. 

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