Prevention techniques, accidents investigations

United States Department of Labor, National Mine Health and Safety Academy. Accident Prevention Techniques Accident Investigation. Beckley, WV U.S. Department of Labor, 1984. 

Incident causation is assumed to progress from the bottom to the top, which means that chances for early prevention of accidents decrease as you get closer to the top. The order of incident analysis is assumed to be top-down, but with different starting points in the iceberg depending On the type (or level) of data that trigger the detection in the first place. It is also assumed that modem investigation techniques will always try to get as far to the bottom of... 

There is nothing earthshakingly new in the accident/incident prevention arena. Basic accident/incident prevention techniqnes espoused in this book have been used and modified over decades. Eew, if any, dramatically new approaches have been devised using more modem techniques. Thus, accident investigation has always been accident investigation, no matter the words nsed. However, the tools and processes utilized for accident prevention have experienced modification and evolution as accident prevention has become an integral part of the loss control initiatives of companies. 

Published more than ten years ago, the first edition of Accident/Incident Prevention Techniques provided clear, comprehensive guidance on how to mitigate the cost, in personnel and to the bottom line, of accidents/incidents in the workplace. Significantly revised and updated, this Second Edition takes its place as the A to Z hands-on guide to the responsibilities, principles, tools, and techniques involved in accident investigative planning and preparation. 

By investigating the various methods and equipment used in system safety applications, the book covers myriad accident/incident prevention techniques, and supplies the illustrations and tools that allow readers to begin to develop and build a safety and health program in their workplace. The author draws on his more than 30 years of experience to supply a template for the development of an effective safety and health program. 

ABSTRACT Several perspectives on major accidents have evolved over the last four decades to explain why accidents occur and how to prevent them. Each perspective looks at the causes of an accident in its own particular way, and may draw different conclusions about the causes of the same accident. In the paper, we have taken a look at an accident that occurred about a century ago, the sinking of the Titanic. The paper summarizes the accident using modern accident investigation techniques. Subsequently, six perspectives on major accidents are applied to identify how the accident causes can be related to the perspectives. 

Reese, C.D. Accident/incident prevention techniques. New York, Taylor Francis, 2001. Root Cause Analysis Handbook A Guide to Effective Incident Investigation. Rockville, MD, Government Institutes, 1999. 

As you look at the contents of this book, you will probably say to yourself that this is nothing new. I would have to agree with you that IMe of what is in this book is new. But, what this book does is consolidate a whole host accident/incident prevention qtproaches into one source. When you want a comprehensive approach to accident/ incident prevention, you are hard pressed to find a source which attempts to cover in some detail the true nuts and bolts for doing so. You will find books that cover accident investigation or some that address each hazard in some detail, which are present in the workplace. Even if accident prevention is addressed incorporating the topics that are found in this book, seldom is enough detail provided to allow you to put these accident prevention techniques to work for you. 

It is especially important to identify and evaluate the underlying causes to prevent substandard acts and conditions from occurring. Some ways to identify evident causes before they result in accidents are relatively simple. However, short of doing systems audits, it is more difficult to identify underlying causes before accidents. The most practical way to do this is to properly train those who investigate accidents in investigation techniques and accident causation. In addition, it helps to have a quality control process in place to measure whether or not these causes are identified appropriately. 

The results of the investigation indicate general problem areas as well as some points of departure for accident prevention specific to the occupation. The resulting suggestions for preventive measures encompass the areas of work organization, safety techniques, and behavior modification (Segger Zimolong 1982) ... 

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