Accident Record Systems

All good accident record systems are organized into three distinct tasks gathering the data, analyzing the data, and applying the data to develop countermeasures. 

The first task, gathering the data, involves developing a carefully planned system for gathering all important data.This step is necessary for several reasons  

The next task, analyzing the data, requires breaking down every accident into its component parts and tallying the information so that it can be viewed objectively. 

The third step consists of applying the data to develop countermeasures. After we determine what causes were responsible, we must try to eliminate or reduce these factors in order to prevent the accident from happening again. 

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Maintaining an accident recording system to measure the organization s safety performance... 

To enable an accident control system to be developed, it is necessary that all accidents are reported, record, investigated and analysed, so that after remedial action has been decided, plans can be drawn up to prevent a recurrence. The most important question to be asked in any accident investigation is What action has b n taken to prevent a recurrence ... 

The facility to accommodate a range of specialist programmes for particular applications for example, the analysis of accident records, production of reports, the monitoring of alarm systems etc. 

An important step in ensuring health and safety in contract situations hes at the tender stage. The principal needs to ensure that there is evidertce that the corrtractor has an adequate OHS system, and a good accident record. (The latter can be difficult for contractors just starting out.) Principals using a preqrralificatiorts system which screens contractors out before they can even submit a bid, rrtake it even more difficrrlt for a new comparty. 

Have a user friendly system. Reporting and recording systems which are too onerous for the quanhty of data to be collected will not be used. For example, using major accident forms for collecting information on minor ... 

Details of all first aid treatments should be recorded. The record may be made in the statutory accident book (B1150) or in a record system developed by the employer. The local emeigency services should be notified of all sites where hazardous substances are used. 

The first step in developing an accident investigation system is to set up a system that allows employees to report accidents (without retribution). If employees fear for their jobs, not only will they not report accidents, they will also hide information that could possibly prevent accidents. And of course companies are obligated by law to post any reportable injury. A reportable injury is an occupational death, injury, or illness that must be recorded on OSHA Form 200, Log of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. Other countries have comparable reporting systems. 

The construction industry has an unenviable accident record and, until the 1990s, had more electrical fatalities than any other industry. The accident rate dropped during the 1990s, largely as a result of the emphasis placed on the use of 110 V centre-tapped-to-earth supplies to hand tools and the use of safer distribution systems. However, serious accidents and fatalities still occur, with contact with overhead power lines being an all too frequent occurrence. 

To meet the Data Protection Act requirements the personal details that are recorded within the accident book or part of a company s reporting and recording system must be kept securely and only be accessed by authorised persons. 

The three types of errors enumerated above match with those defined in the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS), which is a general human error framework for classifying aviation accidents. It has been developed and used within the U.S. military, applied to commercial aviation accident records and proved to be a valuable tool in the civil aviation area. But it makes also sense to apply the classification scheme in other areas, like in COOPERS. 

Is an accident and near-miss recording system in operation ... 

Moreover, harmonized data and information regarding accident causation, across a number of European countries, was used, exploiting the in-depth Safety Net Accident Causation Database collected from six countries following a common methodology and, importantly, a detailed process for recording causation is called the SafetyNet Accident Causation System (SNACS). This resoirrce includes 1,006 cases split between Germarty, Italy, The Netherlands, Finland, Sweden and the UK and was used to produce some basic causation factors. 

For the purpose of this chapter, it is noted that the attraction is that the system offers a method of measuring the potential for harm, independent of the accident record. Disadvantages may include the need to achieve an altered safety climate for both management and workforce to adopt the techniques, and employee suspicion of hidden motives for the observations. 

The National Center for Statistics and Analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) keeps records of various types of police-reported accidents [18]. The file of reported accidents is known as the National Accident Sampling System (NASS), and it was started in the late 1970s. An accident to be included in NASS must satisfy the following three conditions [18,19] ... 

From Home Accident Surveillance System (HASS) data for 1980 it was estimated that there were at least 4576 lawnmower accidents which required hospital treatment in England and Wales that year. Lawnmowers were found to rank 61st out of 800 or so products of features recorded in HASS, 17th if analysis was restricted to outdoor accidents. The accidents involved a high proportion of young able-bodied people in 1979, 80% of victims were between... 

Until fairly recently, companies have been unwilling to invest capital on the health and safety of its personnel with no guarantee of benefits to shareholders. However, the tide has turned significantly, as a successful Health Safety Management System is regarded as insurance against loss because the consequences of a poor accident record will inevitably lose goodwill from clients. 

Primarily recordkeeping system for individual facilities. Includes information on chemicals and manufacturers and records of accidents and training. Chris Plus adds capability of storing and printing MSDS information and assists with the preparation of Tier I and Tier II reports and right-to-know requests. Doth systems contain database of 600 toxic substances and synonyms. 

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