Accident Investigation

1. Accident Investigation For Supervisors State Accident Fund

2. SOUTH CAROLINA ____________________________________________ STATE ACCIDENT FUND Barney C. Derrick Safety and Loss Prevention Specialist P.O. Box 102100 Columbia, SC 29221 Phone: (803) 896-5935 Fax: (803) 612-2735 Email bderrick@saf.sc.gov

3. Define “Accident” • The National Safety Council defines an accident as an undesired eventthat results in personal injury or property damage. • But, that’s just the beginning!!! • There are very few accidents!!!

4. Most workplace Injuries: • Are avoidable • Are predictable • Are preventable There IS a cause! Most have MULTIPLE CAUSES!!!!

5. Causal Factors • Basic causes • Indirect causes • Direct causes

6. Accident Causes Basic Causes Management Safety Policy and Decisions Personal Factors Environmental Factors Indirect Causes Unsafe Act Unsafe Condition Unplanned Event and/or Hazardous Material Direct Causes Accident Personal Injury Property Damage

7. How to Prevent an Accident Eliminate one or more of the causes! More Later…..

8. ALL! What Accidents Should be Investigated? • “Near Misses” • First Aid • Lost Time • Fatalities 1 Serious Disabling 10 Minor Injuries 30 Incidents with Property Damage 600 Near Misses

9. Why should we Investigate Accidents? • To get the facts • Determine specific causes - not blame • To prevent reoccurrence • Toencourage safe work practices and to enhance company’s safety program • Toreducefraudulent claims ***

10. The First Rule of Accident Investigation Everyone is doing something and everything is busy during the accident.

11. The Second Rule of Accident Investigation Time advances steadily during the accident.

12. The Third Rule of Accident Investigation The witness has it, you need it, and the witness does not have to give it to you.

13. The Fourth Rule of Accident Investigation If you always expect everyone to do what they believe to be in their best interests….. YOU WILL NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED.

14. Pre-Accident Planning • An “Accident Investigation Procedure” should include the following: -Who investigates the accident * Individuals * Team investigations * Outside the company -When must the investigation be completed - Who will reviewthe investigation - Who will take follow-up action

15. Employee Relations • Show concern for the employee • Seek employee involvement/input • Discuss methods of prevention • Eliminate barriers to reporting accidents • Involve employees in correcting hazards • Communicate the corrective actions BDA

16. Who Should Investigate the Accident ? • Supervisor benefits most from investigating and should be part of the investigation • Investigators need to : - Have experience in investigative techniques * - Fully knowledgeable of work processes, procedures, persons, and work environments

17. Who Should Investigate the Accident ? • The supervisor should know the most about people and conditions Who works with the injured employee(s) daily? Who manages the equipment that the injured uses on a daily basis? Who should know the most about whatever transpires within the work area?

18. What should the Supervisor’s Analysis Include: • What caused the injury? • Was equipment in safe working order? • Were employees trained for safe operation? • Were procedures followed? • Were other people responsible? • Explain probable causes • List follow-up measures

19. Prepare for the Investigation • Develop and Understand an accident investigation technique (discussed later) • Assemble an accident investigation kit • Understand OSHA and other agencies reporting requirements

20. OSHA Reporting Requirements • All employers, regardless of the number of employees, must report to OSHA within 8 hours any work related accident that results in a fatality or the hospitalization of three or more employees

21. Mentally Preparing for an Accident Investigation • Conduct an orderly & effective investigation • Keep an open mind • Control your biases • Don’t jump to conclusions

22. Accident InvestigationTechnique( 6 Step Process) 1. Report the accident immediately to claims coordinator 2. Collect all available information as soon as possible (including statements, interviews, samples) 3. Identify specific causes (use Causation Model) 4. Document accident investigation 5. Communicate results of investigation 6.Determine appropriate corrective measures

23. Interview Techniques • Put employees at ease • Use visual aids (sketches, photographs) • Ask open-ended questions • Interview: privately, promptly, separately • Interview injured employees & witnesses • Interview others who perform same job • Close on a positive note

24. Accident Investigations Accident Causation Model Material Management Task Environment Personnel

25. Management • Were employees properly trained on all safety rules? • Were written procedures available and enforced? • Was there adequate supervision? • Were workers trained to do the work? • Were unsafe conditions corrected? • Was regular maintenance of equipment carried out? An important follow-up question is “If not, why not?”

26. Task? • Was a safe work procedure used? • Had conditions changed making procedures unsafe? • Were the appropriate tools and material available? • Were they used? • Were safety devices working properly? • Was lockout used when necessary? An important follow-up question is “If not, why not?”

27. Personnel • Were workers experienced in the work being done? • Had they been adequately trained? • Can they physically do the work? • What was the status of their health? • Were they tired? • Were they under stress (work or personal)? An important follow-up question is “If not, why not?”

28. Material • Was there an equipment failure? • What caused it to fail? • Was the machinery poorly designed? • Were hazardous substances involved? • Were they clearly identified? • Was a less hazardous alternative available? • Was the raw material substandard? • Should PPE have been used? Was it? An important follow-up question is “If not, why not?”

29. Environment • What were the weather conditions? • Was poor housekeeping a problem? • Was it hot or too cold? • Was noise a problem? • Was there adequate light? • Were toxic or hazardous gases, dust, or fumes present. An important follow-up question is “If not, why not?”

30. How to Prevent an Accident Eliminate one or more of the causes! Let’s discuss an example

31. Accident Causes Basic Causes Management Safety Policy and Decisions Personal Factors Environmental Factors Indirect Causes Unsafe Act Unsafe Condition Unplanned Event and/or Hazardous Material Direct Causes Accident Personal Injury Property Damage

32. Summary • Good accident investigations can be the key to an effective safety program • Supervisors and other investigators must be trained to investigate accidents • Accident investigations should always be “fact finding” not “fault finding” • Treat the cause not the symptom. Most of the time we see symptoms and not the root causes • There is no such thing, nor will there ever be, a training program that teaches people to never forget and to never make mistakes….

33. SOUTH CAROLINA ____________________________________________ Cassandra Williams Claims Adjuster STATE ACCIDENT FUND Paul Jefferson Investigator Phone: (803) 896-5911 Fax: (803) 612-2711 cwilliams@saf.sc.gov Phone: (803) 896-5922 Fax: (803) 612-2722 pjefferson@saf.sc.gov Theresa Simmons Premiums Auditor P.O. Box 102100 Columbia, SC 29221 Phone: (803) 896-5857 Fax: (803) 612-2717 tsimmons@saf.sc.gov

34. SOUTH CAROLINA ____________________________________________ STATE ACCIDENT FUND Barney C. Derrick Safety and Loss Prevention Specialist P.O. Box 102100 Columbia, SC 29221 Phone: (803) 896-5935 Fax: (803) 612-2735 Email bderrick@saf.sc.gov