An accident may be the result of many factors (simultaneous, interconnected, cross-linked events) that have interacted in some dynamic way. In an effective accident investigation, the investigator will conduct three levels of root cause analysis: Injury analysis: At this level of analysis, we do not attempt to determine what caused the accident, but rather we […]
One of the key business success factors that I have followed throughout the years is that of always trying to determine the root cause of any business problem. I focus on the root cause because anything less than that will not allow you to solve the problem completely. The reason that this is important is […]
Conducting a full and proper root cause analysis is important to completing an accident investigation. This worksheet will aid in a full root cause analysis. Including this form in your accident investigation toolkit, will aid those conducting an investigation after a safety incident. Using the Root Cause Investigation Worksheet Example Accident: “An employee comes […]
Knowing how to properly conduct a 5 why root cause analysis is imperative when handling a safety incident investigation. It isn’t just OSHA that encourages the use of root cause during an incident investigation, but also the EPA under their Risk Management Program(RMP). Concerning Root Cause Analysis OSHA says: During an incident investigation, an employer […]
Over the years, managers and leaders have written thousands of articles about the very complicated causes of accidents in the workplace. The consensus of opinion is that there is not normally one single cause of an accident or an incident. Instead, there are normally a combination of factors that contribute to the accident. These all […]
It’s important to divide your recommended corrective actions into the categories below: Immediate or short-term corrective actions to eliminate or reduce the hazardous conditions and/or unsafe behaviors related to the accident. Long-term system improvements to create or revise existing safety policies, programs, plans, processes, procedures and practices identified as missing or inadequate in the investigation. […]
As you advance your team in a quality accident investigation program, it is imperative to continue their training to improve their skills. This accident investigation training is for intermediate level, so it is best recommended to start with the beginner’s training. 5 Step Investigative Process Response Fact Finding Analysis Corrective Action Follow-up The investigation process […]
As an employer, it is your responsibility to provide a safe working environment for your employees. A great tool at your disposal, often overlooked is incident investigation. So many employers document an incident, taking statements, and cataloging that information away, until the next accident happens. BUT, if you instead investigate every incident, both near miss […]
Accidents happen in the workplace. It’s an unfortunate but true fact. In despite of all the hard work companies do to avoid accidents, occasionally something goes wrong. When it does it’s important to conduct a thorough investigation into what went wrong. After all, it’s even more of a tragedy if someone else gets hurt or […]
A proper investigation after an accident is best summarized with a post accident investigation report. This form is a summary of your entire investigation, and should be completed with assistance from all statements, evidence, witnesses, and the injured party. Accident investigations are intended to determine the cause of an incident, to identify unsafe conditions or […]