Supervisor's Accident
Investigation
When an accident occurs it is
an indication that
something has gone wrong. Accidents do not just happen, they are caused.
It is important to
investigate all accidents to determine the causes and then take corrective
action to assure that they will not be repeated.
Underlying causes of
practically any accident are "unsafe acts" and/or "unsafe
conditions". Most accidents
involve a combination of causes, involving both environmental and behavioristic
factors. The chart attached with this document provides a guide to the
identification of accident causes and suggests corrective action to eliminate
or control them.
When you investigate an accident, keep these things in mind:
- Every
accident has a cause. Carelessness is not a cause, but is often the result
of some deficiency. Telling employees to be more careful will not
eliminate the real accident causes.
- An
accident investigation is not a trial to find fault or to place blame. Its
purpose is to find accident causes so that corrective measures may be
taken to prevent future accidents.
- Most
accidents result from a combination of human error and a physical hazard.
Do not overlook the possibility of multiple errors and hazards. Find and
remove all contributing causes.
- Do
not stop at the obvious answer. For example, a missing machine guard does
not cause an accident; its function is to help prevent injury if an
accident happens. The accident happened because the operator entered the
point of operation. Find out why the operator did this, and why the guard
was off. Only by correcting both problems can you be reasonably sure of
preventing the next accident.
- The
accident investigation should be conducted as soon after the accident as
possible. Facts should be gathered
while the accident is fresh in the minds of those involved. If possible, question every employee
who was involved in, or witnessed, the incident.
Once
you have determined what causes contributed to the accident, make suitable
recommendations for corrective action to prevent recurrences.
Supervisor's Accident
Investigation
|
CONDITIONS |
DEFINITION
OF CONDITION |
SUGGESTED
CORRECTIVE ACTION |
|
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|
ENVIRONMENTAL 1. UNSAFE PROCEDURE |
HAZARDOUS
PROCESS, MANAGEMENT FAILED TO MAKE ADEQUATE PLANS FOR SAFETY. |
A.
JOB
ANALYSIS B. FORMULATION OF SAFE
PROCEDURE |
|
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|
2.
DEFECTIVE THROUGH USE |
BUILDINGS,
MACHINES, OR EQUIPMENT THAT HAVE ROUGH, SLIPPERY, SHARP- EDGED, WORN,
CRACKED, BROKEN, OR OTHERWISE DEFECTIVE THROUGH USE OR ABUSE. |
A.
INSPECTION B. PROPER MAINTENANCE |
|
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|
3.
IMPROPERLY GUARDED |
WORK
AREAS, MACHINES, OR EQUIPMENT THAT ARE UNGUARDED OR INADEQUATELY GUARDED. |
A.
INSPECTION B.
CHECKING
PLANS, BLUEPRINTS, PURCHASE ORDERS, CONTRACTS AND MATERIALS FOR SAFETY C.
INCLUDE
GUARDS IN ORIGINAL DESIGN, ORDER, AND CONTRACT D. PROVIDE GUARDS FOR EXISTING
HAZARDS |
|
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|
4.
DEFECTIVE THROUGH DESIGN |
FAILURE
TO PROVIDE FOR SAFETY IN THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND INSTALLATION OF
BUILDINGS, MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT, TOO LARGE, TOO SMALL, NOT STRONG ENOUGH. |
A.
SOURCE
OF SUPPLY MUST BE RELIABLE B.
CHECKING
PLANS, BLUEPRINTS, PURCHASE ORDERS, CONTRACTS, AND MATERIALS FOR SAFETY C. CORRECTION OF DEFECTS |
|
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|
Supervisor's Accident
Investigation |
MANAGEMENT'S
FAILURE TO PROVIDE OR SPECIFY THE USE OF GOGGLES, RESPIRATORS, SAFETY SHOES,
HARD HATS, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF SAFE DRESS OR APPAREL. |
A.
PROVIDE
SAFE DRESS OR APPAREL OR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IF MANAGEMENT COULD
REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE IT. A.
SPECIFY
THE USE OR NON-USE OF CERTAIN DRESS OR APPAREL OR PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ON
CERTAIN JOBS. |
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