Safety Investigation Techniques

1. Safety Investigation Techniques Presented by ctcd Risk management

2. On the Job Accidents • All on the job near misses, accidents and injuries must be investigated by the employee’s Supervisor. Safety Policy 405. • Goals of the investigation include: • Fact gathering • Prevention of further accidents and injuries

3. Safety Policies 405 & 410 • Safety Policy 405 provides guidance for Supervisors in conducting an investigation after an on-the-job accident. • Investigations are to take place as soon as possible and unless circumstances prevent, the investigation results must be reported to Risk Management within 24 hours. Safety Policy 410.

4. WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, • Always ask the ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘when’ and ‘why’ questions to determine the facts. • WHO was involved/injured who witnessed – get the names and phone numbers of each individual.

5. Get the Facts Ask each witness and the employee who had the accident: • Where did the accident occur? • When did the accident occur?

6. WHAT • WHAT determines what each individual saw or did and the circumstances of the situation. • The goal is to ask ‘open ended’ questions such as “What did you see” to get the individual’s recollection. • Avoid ‘leading’ questions that will tend to reflect your own ideas to the witness. • Don’t ask :“he wasn’t wearing his safety helmet was he?” • Do ask: “did you see if he was wearing any safety equipment?” If yes: “what was he wearing?”

7. Other possible ‘open ended’ What questions • What was the lighting like? [i.e. dim, dark, bright, sun in your eyes] • What were the floor conditions like? [i.e. dry, wet, slippery] • What did s/he say to you after the incident? • What personal protective equipment [‘ppe’] is assigned in your department? • What ppe was s/he wearing? • What did you observe in the area? [i.e. any warning signs such as ‘slippery floor’ ‘do not enter’, obstructed views , caution signs, etc ] • What are you taught regarding proper handling/use of this equipment? • What safety procedures are required when performing this duty? • What safety procedures were followed or not followed?

8. WHY • Why seeks the witness’ or injured employee’s perception of the facts as they saw them and should be asked after gathering the facts through the What questions. • Why do you think this incident occurred? • What do you think could have prevented the accident? [ok – that’s really a What question, but it seeks the witness’ and employee’s perception]

9. USE THE FACTS YOU GATHER • Provide Risk Management with a complete and thorough Supervisor’s Injury, Incident, Property Damage Investigation Report. Safety Policies 405, 410. • Utilize the factual information collected to prevent further injury or accidents: • Give training on proper use of equipment or ppe, and safety techniques. • Repair or remove the safety hazard. • Enforce existing safety practices and procedures. • If warranted, revise work procedures/practices to ensure safety.

10. Injured Employees • ALL employees who seek medical attention for any work related injury MUST provide Risk Management with a Work Status Report/Release from their health care provider before they will be allowed to return to work. • Employees will NOT be allowed to work without this release from their doctor stating they can work either with or without any restrictions.

11. Safety Training & Inspections • Safety Policies outline Supervisors’ responsibilities for workplace accident prevention. • Supervisors are to provide safety training for each employee upon hire into the department and at least twice yearly for all department staff. Policies 100 & 200. • Risk Management can assist in the training with its library of safety training DVDs. • Policy 140 requires monthly safety inspections of each department and work area.

12. Make Safety a Habit Please help ensure a safe environment for all staff and students by following CTCD’s Safety Policies and reporting and correcting all unsafe conditions before an accident occurs!