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Investigate accidents carefully to avoid repeating
them
Accidents
happen — on construction sites, in offices and on the road. And yet,
contractors could eliminate many of them by identifying and eliminating one
or more of the unsafe actions or conditions that lead to these mishaps.
On the surface, accident causes seem simple, but as many as 10 contributing
factors may play into a single accident. Most of them can be traced to poor
management policies or to overlooked questions of personal safety or
environmental conditions. Effective accident investigations can help you
determine not only what happened, but also how and why — and necessary steps
to avoid repeating the mistake.
Planning for the worst
The first requirement for a successful investigation is that all concerned
parties understand that the goal is not to place blame. Rather, the
investigation seeks to prevent a similar — or worse — occurrence in the
future. A secondary goal is to collect the information your company may need
to defend itself during outside inquiries or possible litigation and protect
itself against fraudulent claims or misrepresentation.
To accomplish all this, you must carefully plan accident investigation
procedures before you need them. Depending on the severity of the incident,
the inquiry may involve representatives from the company, the insurer or
regulatory agencies. Sometimes, the services of expert consultants are
required.
But even if you involve several investigators, appoint one person as leader.
In addition to knowing where to start, the leader must know when to stop. The
degree of detail required will depend to some extent on the consequences of
the accident, but establish some basic procedures before the investigation
begins.
Collecting data
One of the primary considerations in construction accident investigations is
when work can resume. The lead investigator must determine this, but work
cannot begin until the team has acquired all the available information and
evidence available at the site and declared the site safe for workers.
In collecting data, investigators should look for abnormal actions and
conditions preceding the accident. Then they must determine how those actions
and conditions contributed to the accident. Physical evidence from the scene
is important, along with maps, photographs and other documents. But the most
valuable information is likely to come from victims and witnesses.
Be careful: Memories may be faulty, and fear or the desire to protect
themselves or co-workers can have an impact on observers’ accounts of
occurrences surrounding the accident. But witnesses are the glue that holds
together the chain of events and an experienced investigating team can assess
the reliability of individual comments.
10 steps to a successful accident investigation
- Define the scope of the investigation.
Reconstruct events leading up to the incident without attempting to
attach blame.
- Select the investigators and assign specific
tasks to each. Choose experienced investigators to sift physical
evidence, gather victim and witness testimony, and document policies and
procedures.
- Secure and inspect the accident site. Halt
work at the site, and unless a hazard exists, keep the scene
undisturbed.
- Interview each victim and witness. Seek all
relevant information, including events immediately before and after the
accident.
- Release the scene and witnesses. After
investigators have collected evidence and the site is safe, resume work.
- Determine what was not normal. Analyze witness
accounts, physical evidence, and company policies and procedures.
- Establish the likely sequence of events and
probable causes. Piece together collected evidence to determine what
happened and why.
- Compile a report, including recommendations.
Supplement findings with appropriate diagrams, photos and drawings.
- Communicate findings. Circulate investigation
results throughout the organization.
- Implement changes. The
investigation’s benefits begin after you adopt its recommendations.
Using the information
Objective assessment of the information and evidence may reveal flaws in your
company’s systems and procedures, along with individual or group failings.
These findings help set the course for improvement, so sharing the
investigative report throughout the organization is important. Effective
accident investigations provide valuable insights into the way your
construction business operates and can help point the way to significant
improvements.
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