1 This is the non-credit version no certificate will be issued Some links and content may not be active Material is updated periodically IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE, USE YOUR BROWSER BACK BUTTON OR RETURN TO THE EDUCATION PAGE
2 Conducting an Accident Investigation Oregon OSHA Online Course 1110 This material is for training purposes only. Its purpose is to inform Oregon employers of best practices in occupational safety and health and general Oregon OSHA compliance requirements. This material is not a substitute for any provision of the Oregon Safety Employment Act or any standards issued by Oregon OSHA. For more information on this online course and other OR-OSHA online training, visit the Online Course Catalog. (http://www.cbs.state.or.us/osha/education.html) This is a text only version. Some links and content may not be active. Course Modules Introduction What is an accident? Why conduct an investigation? Are accidents always unplanned? Accidents and incidents Characteristics of effective incident/accident analysis program Module 1: Initiating the Process Introduction Before the accident occurs lay the groundwork Step 1: Secure the Accident Scene If required, report the accident Module 2: Documenting the Accident Scene Introduction Step 2: Collect Facts About What Happened Sample Accident Investigator s Kit Methods to document the accident scene Module 3: Conducting Interviews Introduction Step 2: Collecting the Facts Through Interviews Effective Interviewing Techniques Last Words Module 4: Analyzing the Facts Introduction Sorting it all out Analysis defined Step 3: Developing the Sequence of Events Last Words Module 5: Determining Surface and Root Causes Introduction Old Theory Worker Error
3 New Theory Systems Approach Why accidents happen Time to analyze for cause The direct cause of injury The surface causes of accidents Examples of safety management system functions Last Words Module 6: Developing Recommendations Introduction Step 5: Recommend Improvements The Hierarchy of Controls Recommend system improvements Answer Six Key Questions A simple cost-benefit analysis Average direct dollar cost for different types of accidents Last Words Module 7: Writing the Report Introduction Perceptions is reality The Accident Report Form Last Words
4 INTRODUCTION Workplace accidents occur each and every day all across the Country. Each Year the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) publishes a statistical summary of injuries and illnesses (See summary below) that emphasizes this fact. blame. The failure of people, equipment, supplies, or surroundings to behave or react as expected causes most of the accidents. Accident investigations determine how and why these failures occur. By using the information gained through an investigation, a similar or perhaps more disastrous accident may be prevented. Conduct accident investigations with accident prevention in mind. Investigations are NOT to place This course introduces you to basic accident investigation procedures and describes accident analysis techniques. Throughout the course, you'll be taking what you've learned throughout the course to analyze a hypothetical accident! What is an accident? An accident is the final event in an unplanned process that results in injury or illness to an employee and possibly property damage. An "event," occurs when one "actor" (one person/thing) performs an "action" (does something). In this definition, a person or thing will do something that result in a change of state (an injury). An accident may be the result of many factors (simultaneous, interconnected, cross-linked events) that have interacted in some dynamic way. Why conduct an "investigation"? Does your organization conduct accident investigations for the same reason as Oregon OSHA? It shouldn't be. The answer to this question is key to the success of the entire program.to determine the purpose of a process, it's important to look at the "output" of that process. The employer's role: Analyze to fix the system...it's fact finding not fault finding. Unfortunately, some employers believe that the investigation process ends once blame as been established. The problem, here, is that once the purpose of the analysis process has been achieved, analysis stops. When employers investigate to place blame, no further analysis is conducted to fix the underlying safety management system weaknesses that contributed to the accident.
5 According to OSHA's Safety & Health Program Management Guidelines, para (c)(2)(iv), the employer's primary purpose for investigating accidents is primarily, "so that their causes and means for preventing repetitions are identified." OSHA goes on to say this about the investigation process: "Although a first look may suggest that "employee error" is a major factor, it is rarely sufficient to stop there. Even when an employee has disobeyed a required work practice, it is critical to ask, "Why?" A thorough analysis will generally reveal a number of deeper factors, which permitted or even encouraged an employee's action. Such factors may include a supervisor's allowing or pressuring the employee to take short cuts in the interest of production, inadequate equipment, or a work practice which is difficult for the employee to carry out safely. An effective analysis will identify actions to address each of the causal factors in an accident or "near miss" incident." Bottom line: The output of the employer's accident investigation process should not end with merely identifying violations of employer safety rules. The final report should focus on identifying safety management system weaknesses. Following this policy will help make sure the accident analysis process is a "profit center" activity for the company. It will result in long-term returns that are substantially greater than the investment put into the process. The most effective employer accident investigations address liability only after an honest evaluation by a qualified person concludes that all relevant elements of the safety management system are effectively designed and implemented. A quick reprimand almost guarantees adequate evaluation was not conducted. Are accidents always unplanned? We like to think that accidents are unexpected or unplanned events, but sometimes, that's not necessarily so. Some accidents result from hazardous conditions and unsafe behaviors that have been ignored or tolerated for weeks, months, or even years. In such cases, it's not a question of "if" the accident is going to happen: It's only a matter of "when." But unfortunately, the decision is made to take the risk. A competent person can examine workplace conditions, behaviors and underlying systems to predict closely what kind of accidents will occur in the workplace. Technically, we can't say an accident is always unplanned. Like any system, a safety management system is designed perfectly to produce what it produces. Consequently, written safety plans may be (unintentionally) designed such that they create circumstances that cause accidents. In companies that decide to take the risk, it's likely their attitude about accidents is that, "accidents just happen; there's nothing we can do about them." Of course, that's an unacceptable notion in any effective safety culture. Employers with a healthful attitude about accidents consider them to be "inexcusable," and demand that hazards be corrected before they cause an accident. Accidents and incidents The procedures discussed in this course apply most directly to accidents, but they are also applicable to "near hit" incidents in general. If you aren t investigating those then you are missing a huge opportunity to protect your employees.
6 Characteristics of effective incident/accident analysis program The program will be guided by a written plan that identifies specific procedures and responsibilities. It's important to make sure procedures are clearly stated and easy to follow in a step-by-step fashion. The plan clearly assigns responsibility for conducting accident investigations. It's up to the employer to determine who conducts accident investigations. Usually a supervisor, management/labor team, or safety committee member conducts the investigation. Whoever conducts the investigation needs to understand his or her role as an accident investigator. Usually, two heads work better than one, especially when gathering and analyzing material facts about the accident. We recommend a team approach. All accident investigators will be formally trained on accident investigation techniques and procedures. Investigators may attend accident investigation training presented by OR-OSHA, private educational institutions, or in-house training conducted by a qualified person. Accident investigation must be perceived as separate from any potential disciplinary procedures resulting from the accident. The purpose of the accident investigation is to get at the facts, not find fault. The accident investigator must be able to state with all sincerity, that he or she is conducting the investigation only for the purpose of determining cause, not blame. The accident investigation report will be in writing and will make sure that the surface causes and root causes of accidents are addressed. Most accident reports are ineffective precisely because they neglect to uncover the underlying reasons or factors that contribute to the accident. Only by digging deep, can you eliminate the hazardous conditions and work practices that, on the surface, caused the accident. The accident investigation report will make recommendations to correct hazardous conditions and work practices, and those underlying system weaknesses that "caused" them into existence. In many instances, the surface causes for the accidents are corrected on the spot, and will be reported as such, but the investigator must make recommendations for long-term corrections in the safety and health system to make sure those surface causes do not reappear. Follow-up on both current and/or revised procedures to make sure short and long-term corrective actions are completed. There will be an annual review of accident reports. Safety committee members can evaluate accident reports for consistency and quality. They must make sure root causes are being addressed and corrected. To do this, information about the types of accidents, locations, trends, etc., should be gathered. With all this in mind, let's move on to Module One to begin discussing the six-step process for conducting an effective accident investigation.
7 MODULE 1: INITIATING THE PROCESS Introduction In this first module our goals are to understand basic OROSHA law regarding employer responsibilities to conduct accident investigation. We'll also learn why it's important to begin the investigation early-on, when it's "safe" to investigate, and "how" to secure the accident scene once the investigation has been initiated. Finally, you'll learn what the law says about reporting accidents to OR-OSHA. The incident/accident investigation process is composed of three principles and each principle is further reduced into 6 steps. This helps to ensure you are walking through the process in an orderly manner. Before the accident occurs...lay the groundwork When a serious accident occurs in the workplace, everyone will be too busy dealing with the emergency at hand to worry about putting together an investigation plan, so before the accident occurs... develop an effective written incident/accident analysis plan that will: Determine who should be notified of accident. Establish who is authorized to notify outside agencies (fire, police, etc.) Determine who is assigned to conduct investigations. Conduct required training for accident investigators. Determine who receives and acts on investigation reports. Establish timetables for conducting the investigation and follow-up actions such as hazard correction. Step 1: Secure the Accident Scene The first step in an effective accident investigation procedure is to secure the accident scene as soon as possible so you can begin collecting initial data. Sometimes, you may actually be able to begin the investigation, while the victim is being assisted by emergency responders. In this case, make sure you do not interfere in any way with them. The first responsibility is to make sure the victim is cared for. At this early point, you're primarily making initial observations for later analysis.
8 Most of the time, your investigation will not begin until emergency response is completed. In this situation, material evidence will most likely not be in its original location. Of course, this will make it more difficult for you to determine the original location of evidence, but effective interviews will help you to construct the scene. In either situation, you're not yet interested in what "caused" the accident, just gathering as much pertinent information as possible for later analysis. Why is it important to start the investigation as soon as possible? Of course, it's not to establish blame, but rather to accurately determine the surface and root causes for the accident. The longer you wait to investigate, the more likely the accuracy of the evidence may suffer over time. Why? Two things may change after an accident occurs: Material evidence. Somehow, tools, equipment, and sometimes people just seem to move or disappear from the scene. Understandably, the employer is anxious to "clean up" the accident scene so people can get back to work. It's important that an effective procedure be developed to protect material evidence so that it does not get moved, or disappears. Memory. Accidents are traumatic events. There are varying degrees of psychological trauma depending on how "close" an individual is to the accident or victim. There may be physical trauma to the victim and others whenever a serious accident occurs in the workplace. Everyone is affected somehow. As time passes after an accident conversations with others and individual emotions distort what people believe they saw and heard. After a while, the memory of everyone affected by the accident will be altered in some way. This type of distortion can have nothing but negative effects on your success as an accident investigator. With the above in mind, it becomes rather obvious why we must try to get information as soon as possible. But what can we do to make sure evidence and memory do not disappear? Let's find out. Securing the accident scene isn't difficult, but it's critically important to do it quickly. You may use tape, rope, cones, or even personnel to secure the accident scene. Securing the accident scene may not be rocket science, but it may be extremely important in preventing the loss or misplacement of material evidence. If required, report the accident If a very serious injury or fatality accident occurs, you may be required to report it to OROSHA. Let's look at the Standard for the specific requirements (http://orosha.org/pdf/rules/division_1/ pdf) (21) Reporting Fatalities and Hospitalizations to Oregon OSHA. You must report the following to Oregon OSHA at or within the given time limits: (a) Fatality - 8 hours (b) Catastrophe - 8 hours (c) Overnight Hospitalization - 24 hours A fatality is pretty much self-explanatory. A catastrophe is considered two or more fatalities or three or more serious injuries. Think of an injury as serious if the victim is admitted to the hospital overnight for other than observation. Once the employer has knowledge that any of the above conditions have been met, the eight and 24-hour clock starts ticking.
9 MODULE 2: DOCUMENTING THE ACCIDENT SCENE Introduction In this module we will take a look at strategies for documenting the accident scene. We'll emphasize the team approach and discuss the advantages of using the various documentation methods including, personal observation, photo/videotaping, taking statements, drawing sketches and reviewing records. Step 2: Collect Facts About What Happened Once the accident scene has been roped off, it's important to begin immediately to gather evidence from many sources as possible during an investigation. One of the biggest challenges facing the investigator is to determine what is relevant to what happened, how it happened, and why it happened. Identifying items that answer these questions is the purpose of effective accident scene documentation. As you'll learn, there are so many ways to document the scene that it may become quite difficult for one person to effectively complete all actions. The most effective strategy is to document as much as possible, even if you question relevancy. It's easy to discard clues or leads if they prove not useful to the investigation. It's not at all easy to dig up material evidence well into the investigation. All items found at the scene should be considered important and potentially relevant. Consequently, a team approach is probably the most efficient strategy when conducting accident investigations when very serious injuries or fatalities are involved. Sample Accident Investigator's Kit Another important policy is to have a ready-and-waiting accident investigator's kit. You won't be able to fulfill this purpose unless you come prepared so make sure an accident investigation kit is available for use. Some items we use are listed below: Camera Tape recorder Ground loop Impedance Tester Sound level meter Abney Level or clinometers Tape measure, 25 and 50 ft length Clipboard, paper, pencils, etc. Rain gear Rubber and caulked boots Plastic bags with ties Square, French curve template Personal Protective Equipment Eye protection Hand protection Clothing Respirators Hearing protection String Stakes Warning tape
10 Methods to document the accident scene Make personal observations. With clipboard in hand, take notes on personal observations. Try to involve all the senses. What do you see? What equipment, tools, materials, machines, structures appear to be broken, damaged, struck or otherwise involved in the event? Look for gouges, scratches, dents, smears. If vehicles are involved, check for tracks and skid marks. Look for irregularities on surfaces. Are there any fluid spills, stains, contaminated materials or debris? What about the environment? Were there any distractions, adverse conditions caused by weather? Record the time of day, location, lighting conditions, etc. Note the terrain (flat, rough, etc.) What is the activity occurring around the accident scene? Who is there: Who is not? You'll need this information to take initial statements and interviews. Measure distances and positions of anything and everything you believe to be of any value to the investigation. Obtain initial statements If you're fortunate there will be one or more eye-witnesses to the accident. Ask them for an initial statement giving a description of the accident. Also try to obtain other information from the witness including: Names of other possible witnesses for subsequent interviews. Names of company rescuers or emergency response service. Materials, equipment, articles that were moved or disturbed during the rescue. Take photos of the accident scene. Make sure you start with distance shots, and move in closer as you take the photos. Also make notes about the photos you took. Some important points to remember about taking photos include: o Take photos at different angles (from above, 360 deg. of scene, left, right, rear) to show the relationship of objects and minute and/or transient details such as ends of broken rope, defective tools, drugs, wet areas, containers. o Take panoramic photos to help present the entire scene, top to bottom - side to side. o Take notes on each photo. These will be included in the appendix of the report along with the photos. Identify the type of photo, date, time, location, subject, weather conditions, measurements, etc. o Place an item of known dimensions in the photo if hard-to-measure subjects are being photographed. o Identification of person taking photo. You may indicate the locations photos were taken on sketches. Videotape the scene The earlier you can begin videotaping, the better. Once company or other emergency responders are attending to the victim, begin videotaping. The video recorder will pick up details and conversations that can add much valuable information to your investigation. Just remember...don't get in the way.
11 Some important points to remember when videotaping include: Have witness(es) accompany and describe what happened. If possible, reenact the event. Use a tripod when taping. To get the "lay of the land," stand back from a distance and zoom in to the scene. Scan slowly 360 degrees left and right to establish location. Narrate what is being taped, describe objects, size, direction, location, etc. If a vehicle was involved, tape direction of travel, going and coming. Before you tape, make sure your video camera is operating properly, the battery is charged, etc. Sketch the accident scene Sketches are very important because they compliment the information in photos, and are good at indicating distances among the various elements of the accident scene which establishes "position evidence." It is important to be as precise as possible when making sketches. The basic components of the sketch are: Documentation. Date, time, location, identity of objects, victims, etc. Spatial relationships. Measurements. Location of photographs. Some sketching pointers: Make sketches large; preferably 8" x 10". Makes sketches clear. Include information pertinent to the investigation. Include measurements. Establish precise fixed identifiable reference points. Print legibly. All printing should be on the same plane. Indicate directions, i.e., N,E,S,W. Always tie measurements to a permanent point, e.g.. telephone pole, building. Mark where people were standing. Use sketches when interviewing people. Show where photos were taken. Upgrade the quality of the sketch. Turn it into a precise diagram. This sketch illustrates the Triangulation Method which makes it possible to later pinpoint the exact location of an object. In this accident, the victim contacted a high voltage line with a metal tree trimming pole. The position of the victim's head is measured from three points. Notice the small circles with horizontal lines through them. These circles indicate where photos were taken. Also, North is indicated and all major objects are identified.
12 Here's another sketch that helps to illustrate one of the major advantages of sketching. It shows motion through time. In this sketch you can see how the bulldozer rolled down the side of a hill. Interview documents That's right...you don't just review records, you "interview" them by asking questions. If you ask...they will answer. Some records you might want to interview are: Maintenance records - to determine the maintenance history of the tools, equipment or machinery involved in the accident. Training records - to determine the quantity and quality of the training received by the victim and others. Standard operating procedures - to determine the formally established steps in the procedures. Safety policies, plans, rules - to determine their presence and adequacy. Work schedules - to determine if the victim might have been fatigued or otherwise overworked. Disciplinary records - if discipline is considered justified, to determine if disciplinary actions have occurred previously. Medical records - if permission granted, or otherwise allowed, to determine potential physical/mental contributing factors. EMT reports - to determine quality of response procedures. OSHA Form 300 Log - to determine if similar accidents have occurred previously. See OROSHA Recordkeeping Rules for more information. Form 801, First Report of Injury - to collect additional information on accident events and background. See OROSHA Recordkeeping Rules for more information. Safety Committee Minutes - to determine the history of any discussion of related hazardous conditions, unsafe behaviors or program elements. Coroner's report - to determine direct cause of injury causing fatality. Police report - to determine facts when criminal negligence is in question. Note: When criminal negligence is suspected stop the investigation and coordinate all activities with legal advisors.
13 MODULE 3: CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS Introduction Once you have initially documented the accident scene, it becomes important to start digging for details through the interview process. Conducting interviews is perhaps the most difficult part of an investigation. The purpose of the accident investigation interview is to obtain an accurate and comprehensive picture of what happened by obtaining all pertinent facts, interpretations, and opinions. Your job, as the interviewer is to construct a composite story using the various accounts of the accident and other evidence. The effective interviewer will have a firm understanding of the techniques for interviewing and the skills acquired through experience to apply those techniques. This module will help you understand the difference between an initial interview and an investigative interview, how to set up an interview, and develop interview questions. The module will also discuss how to organize the interview and participants to be able to obtain accurate information. Step 2: Collecting the Facts Through Interviews (Cont d) Your first task is to determine who needs to be interviewed. Questions will need to be designed around the interviewee. Consequently, each interview will be a very unique experience. Interviews should occur as soon as possible, but usually do not begin until things have settled down a bit. Some people you may want to consider for an interview include: The victim. To determine specific events leading up to and including the accident. Co-workers. To establish what actual vs. appropriate procedures have been used. Preferably ones who perform the same task. Direct supervisor. To get background information on the victim. He or she can provide procedural information about the task that was being performed. Manager. Can be the main source for information on related systems. Training department. To get information on quantity and quality of training the victim and others have received. Personnel department. To get information on the victim's and others' work history, discipline, appraisals. Maintenance personnel. To determine background on equipment/machinery maintenance. Emergency responders. To learn what they saw when they arrived and during the response. Medical personnel. To get medical information (as allowed by law.) Coroner. Can be a valuable source to determine type/extent of fatal injuries. Police. If they filed a report. Other interested persons. Anyone interested in the accident may be a valuable source of information. The victim's spouse and family. They may have insight into the victim s state of mind or other work issues. Cooperation not intimidation is the key to a successful accident investigation interview. Gathering information is the focus of this interview process.
14 Effective Interviewing Techniques What are effective ways to increase cooperation in the accident interview process? What communication strategies might increase the likelihood of an adversarial relationship in the interview? As you conduct interviews, gaining experience along the way, you'll further develop the "art" of interviewing by improving your ability to apply these techniques. Use incident investigations to gain this experience. Keep the purpose of the investigation in mind: To determine the cause of the accident so that similar accidents will not recur. Make sure the interviewee understands this. Approach the investigation with an open mind. It will be obvious if you have preconceptions about the individuals or the facts. Go to the scene. Just because you are familiar with the location or the victim s job, don't assume that things are always the same. If you can't conduct a private interview at the location, find an office or meeting room that the interviewee considers a "neutral" location. Don't promise confidentiality. Interview the people involved (victim, witnesses, people involved with the process, i.e., forklift driver, mechanic). Put the person at ease. Explain the purpose and your role. Sincerely express concern regarding the accident and desire to prevent a similar occurrence. Express to the individual that the information given is important. Be friendly, understanding, and open minded. Be calm and unhurried. Direct an eyewitness to "explain what happened." If you don't ask them to explain, you may be left with a simple "no," and that's that. Let the individual talk. Ask background information, name, job, etc. first. Ask the witness to tell you what happened; don't ask leading questions; don't interrupt; and don't make expressions (facial, verbal of approval or disapproval). Ask open ended questions to clarify particular areas or get specifics. Try to avoid yes and no answer (closed ended) questions. Try to avoid asking "why" as these types of questions tend to make people respond defensively. Example: Do not ask: "Why did you drive the forklift with under-inflated tires? Rather, ask: What are forklift inspection procedures? What are forklift safety hazard reporting procedures? Repeat the facts and sequence of events back to the person to avoid any misunderstandings. Notes should be taken very carefully, and as casually as possible. Ask the interviewee to review the notes for technical accuracy. Reading the notes may help them remember other details. Give the interviewee a copy of the notes you take to help reduce any thought that you're trying to conceal information. Don't use a tape recorder unless you get permission. Tell the interviewee that the purpose of the recorder is to ensure accuracy. Offer to give the interviewee a copy of the tape. Ask for their suggestions as to how the accident/incident could have been avoided.
15 Conclude the interview by thanking them for their contribution. Ask them to contact you if they think of anything else. If possible, tell these people personally of the outcome of the investigation before it becomes public knowledge. Last Words Understanding and applying the information above during the interview process will help assure you establish a cooperative relationship so that you can obtain the facts. Intimidation and blaming will always result in an ineffective interview process.
16 MODULE 4: ANALYZING THE FACTS Introduction This module introduces you to the very important process of event analysis. We'll discuss the process of developing and analyzing the sequence of events occurring prior to, during, and immediately after an accident. Sorting it all out... We've collected a lot of factual data and it's strewn over the top of your desk. The task now is to turn that data into useful information. We've got to somehow take this data and make some sense of it. It's important to know that we are not just trying to take random facts to identify, or determine the presence of the conditions and behaviors that caused the accident. More importantly, we're conducting a structured "analysis" to determine the unique events that occurred prior to and including the injury event, and what kind of impact each event had on the accident. Analysis defined Webster defines analysis as the "separation of an intellectual or substantial whole into its parts for individual study." When there is a workplace accident we need to separate or "break down" the accident process (the whole) into its component parts (events) for study to determine how they relate to the whole. Since the accident, itself, is the main event, its component "parts" may be thought of as the individual events leading up to and including the main event or the accident. Step 3: Develop the Sequence of Events Our challenge at this point in the investigation process is to accurately determine the sequence of events in the accident process so that we can more effectively analyze the accident process. Once the steps in the process are developed, we can then study each event to determine related: Hazardous conditions. Things and states that directly caused the accident. Unsafe behaviors. Actions taken/not taken that contributed to the accident. System weaknesses. Underlying inadequate or missing programs, plans, policies, processes, and procedures that contributed to the accident. The final event in an unplanned process When we understand that the accident is actually the final event in an unplanned process, we'll naturally want to know what the initial event was. When the initial event occurs, it effects the actions of others, setting in motion a potentially very complicated process eventually ending in an injury or illness. The trick is to take the information gathered and arrange so that we can accurately determine what initial condition and/or action transformed the planned work process into an unplanned accident process. For instance, if a supervisor ignores an unsafe behavior because doing so is not thought to be his or her responsibility, the failure to enforce behavior represents an event in the production process that may contribute to or increase the probability of an accident.
17 Each event in the unplanned accident process describes a unique: Actor. An individual or object that directly influenced the flow of the sequence of events. An actor may participate in the process or merely observe the process. An actor initiates a change by performing or failing to perform an action. Action. Something that is done by an actor. Actions may or may not be observable. An action may describe something that is done or not done. Failure to act should be thought of as an act in itself. It's important to understand that when describing events, first indicate the actor, then tell what the actor does. Remember, the actor is the "doer," not the person or object being acted upon or otherwise having something done to them. For instance, take a look at the statement below: "Bob unhooked the lifeline from the harness." In this example, "Bob" is the actor and "unhooking" is the action. First we describe the actor...bob. Then we describe the action...unhooking. The lifeline and harness, although "objects", are not actors because they are not performing an action. Rather, something is being done to them. Also note that the statement is written in active tense. Paint a word picture It's important that the sequence of events clearly describe what occurred so that someone unfamiliar with an accident is able to "see it happen" as they read. If an event is hard to understand, it may be that the description is too vague or general. The solution to this problem is to increase the detail by: Determine if anything else was said/done before or after the event you are currently assessing. Separate actors. Remember, an actor may be a person or a thing accomplishing a given action. If an event includes actions by more than one actor, break the event down into two events. To get a good idea what the sequence of events looks like, review the example below that was prepared for an actual fatality investigation conducted by Oregon OROSHA a few years ago. Sequence of Events 1. Employee #1 returned to work at 12:30 PM after lunch to continue laying irrigation pipes. 2. At approximately 12:45 PM employee #1 began dumping accumulated sand from an irrigation mainline pipe. 3. Employee #1 oriented the pipe vertically and it contacted a high voltage power line directly over the work area. 4. Employee #2 heard a zap and turned to see the mainline pipe falling and employee #1 falling into an irrigation ditch. 5. Employee #2 ran to employee #1 and pulled him from the irrigation ditch, laid him on his back and ran about 600 ft to his truck and placed a call for help on his mobile phone.
18 6. Employee #2 than ran back to find employee #1 had fallen back into the ditch. 7. Employee #2 jumped back into the ditch and held employee #1 out of the water until help arrived. 8. Two other ranch employees arrived and assisted employee #2 in getting employee #1 out of the ditch. 9. Approximately one minute later, paramedics arrived and began to administer CPR on employee #1. They also used a heart defibrillation machine in an attempt to stabilize employee #1 s heart beat. 10. At approximately 1:10 PM an ambulance arrived and transported employee #1 to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 1:30 PM. This example is rather brief and there may be other related events that indirectly contributed to the accident. However, it does give you sufficient descriptive detail to paint a mental picture of the actors and acts that occurred immediately prior to and including the accident. Last Words Now that we have the sequence of events, we can begin the "analysis" by examining each event for potential causes of the accident.
19 MODULE 5: DETERMINING SURFACE AND ROOT CAUSES Introduction Did you know that most accidents in the workplace result from a combination of unsafe work behaviors and hazardous conditions? According to the latest research, they represent the cause for about 98% of all workplace accidents. "Acts of God" account for the remaining 2%. All these statistics imply that safety management system weaknesses account for fully 98% of all workplace accidents. To effectively fulfill our responsibilities as an accident investigator, we must not close the investigation until these root causes have been identified. It's a common struggle trying to overcome long-held perceptions about safety and how accidents occur. Management perceptions and subsequent actions reflect both traditional and progressive approaches. Let's take a look at old and new thinking. Old Theory - Worker Error Old thinking about the causes of accidents assumes that the worker makes a choice to work in an unsafe manner. It implies that there are no outside forces acting upon the worker influencing his actions and that there are simple reasons for the accident. Old thinking also considers accidents as solely resulting from worker error: A lack of "common sense." The employee is the focus of "the problem." To prevent accidents, the employee must work more safely. This thinking results in blaming and short-term fixes: Inefficient, ineffective, and in the long run more expensive to implement and maintain. New Theory - Systems Approach The systems approach takes into account the dynamics of systems that interact within the overall safety program. It concludes that accidents are considered defects in the system. People are only one part of a complex system composed of many complicated processes (more than we realize). Accidents are the result of multiple causes or defects in the system. It becomes the investigator's job to uncover the root causes (defects) in the system. Fixing the system, not the employee, is the heart of the investigation. To prevent accidents, the system must work more safely. This thinking results in long-term fixes: Less expensive to implement and maintain. Why accidents happen Over the past century, safety professionals have tried to more effectively explain how and why accidents occur. As you will see below, their explanations were at first rather simplistic. Theorists gradually realized that it was not sufficient to explain away workplace accidents as simple causeeffect events. They developed new theories that better explained the complicated interaction among conditions, behaviors and systems that result in an accident. Let's take a look at some of these theories. Single Event Theory - "Common sense" leads us to this explanation. An accident is thought to be the result of a single, one-time easily identifiable, unusual, unexpected occurrence that results in injury or illness. Some still believe this explanation to be adequate.
20 It's convenient to simply blame the victim when an accident occurs. For instance, if a worker cuts her hand on a sharp edge of a work surface, her lack of attentiveness may be explained as the cause of the accident. ALL responsibility for the accident is placed squarely on the shoulders of the employees. An accident investigator who has adopted this explanation for accidents will not produce quality investigation reports that result in longterm corrective actions. The Domino Theory - This explanation describes an accident as a series of related occurrences which lead to a final event that result in injury or illness. Like dominoes, stacked in a row, the first domino falling sets off a chain reaction of related events that result in an injury or illness. The accident investigator will assume that by eliminating any one of those actions or events, the chain will be broken and future accidents prevented. In the example above, the investigator may recommend removing the sharp edge of the work surface (an engineering control) to prevent any future injuries. This explanation still ignores important underlying system weaknesses or root causes for accidents. Multiple Cause Theory - This explanation takes us beyond the rather simplistic assumptions of the single event and domino theories. Once again, accidents are not assumed to be simple events. They are the result of a series of random related or unrelated acts/events that somehow interact to cause the accident. Unlike the domino theory, the investigator will realize that eliminating one of the events does not assure prevention of future accidents. Removing the sharp edge of a work surface does not guarantee a similar injury will be prevented at the same or other workstation. Many other factors may have contributed to an injury. An accident investigation will not only recommend corrective actions to remove the sharp surface, it will also address the underlying system weaknesses that caused it. Time to analyze for cause We've gathered information and used it to develop an accurate sequence of events. We've got a good mental picture of what happened. Now it's time to conduct an analysis of each event to determine causes. This module will introduce us to the following concepts: Injury analysis Event analysis Systems analysis Direct cause of injury Surface cause of the accident Root cause of the accident Three levels of cause analysis As mentioned earlier in the course, accidents are processes that culminate in an injury or illness. An accident may be the result of many factors (simultaneous, interconnected, crosslinked events) that have interacted in some dynamic way. In an effective accident investigation, the investigator will conduct three levels of cause analysis: Injury analysis. At this level of analysis, we do not attempt to determine what caused the accident, but rather we focus on trying to determine how harmful energy transfer caused the injury. Remember, the outcome of the accident process is an injury. Event Analysis - Here we determine the surface cause(s) for the accident: Those hazardous conditions and unsafe behaviors described throughout all events that dynamically interact to produce the injury. All hazardous conditions and unsafe behaviors are clues pointing to possible system weaknesses. This level
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