Investigation,

and
t-Recording
Reporl1ngof
Health and Safety

Incidents
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ACCIDENT DEFINITION
An accident is an unplanned/unpremeditated event
caused by unsafe acts or conditions which results in a
loss.

NEAR MISS (INCIDENT)

A near miss is an unplanned/unpremeditated event that
has the potential to cause injury to people or damage to
property.

IMMEDIATE I DIRECT CAUSES

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The immediate/direct cause is the unsafe act or condition

that results in an accident or incident.

ROOT I UNDERLYING CAUSES

4.

The Root (Underlying) cause is the failure of procedures I

management systems that have resulted in the unsafe act or
condition.

PRINCIPLE CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS

Attitude

Unsafe acts

Unsafe conditions

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BENEFITS OF COLLECTING NEAR

MISS DATA

IMMEDIATE AND LONGER TERM

ACTION AFTER AN ACCIDENT

To identify underlying causes which may

allow preventative action to be taken
before something more serious occurs

First Aid for injured party

Calling medical assistance if necessary

Gives message to workforce that all

failures are taken seriously, not just
those leading to injury
Generally accepted that near misses
greatly outnumber accidents and can
therefore produce more data from which
a greater understanding of the
deficiencies in management systems
can be identified and rectified

Isolation of the accident scene

Report to relevant enforcing authority if
necessary
Identification of witnesses
Setting up investigation team
Full investigation to determine root
cause

Making recommendations

Implementing corrective action

THE AIM OF ACCIDENT

INVESTIGATION IS:
To determine cause to prevent a
recurrence
Identify weaknesses in management
systems
Identify weaknesses in risk assessment
procedure
Demonstrate management commitment
To comply with legal requirements
To provide information for any
subsequent criminal/civil action
Provide information to insurance
company

PREPARATION BEFORE
INVESTIGATION
Who should be involved
If possible the accident scene is left
untouched

Collating relevant existing documents

Identifying who are witnesses
Check that legal reporting requirements
have been met
What equipment is needed
The style to be adopted
The style of report and who should
receive it
The depth of the investigation

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REASONS FOR
REPORTING
ACCIDENTS

Prioritise safety measures

Implement initial controls

Set targets for reduction

Supervisor: has knowledge

of the process

Monitoring health and

safety performance

Safety Representative: has

legal right

Starting point for

investigation

Safety Practitioner: to
advise on health and safety
implications

To comply with legal

requirements

To prevent recurrences and

further injuries /losses

To provide information for

any subsequent civil claim

Review of risk
assessments

Preserve department's
safety record

Over-complicated
reporting procedures

Lack of management
response to reports

INVESTIGATION TEAM
Line Manager: has
knowledge of the processes
involved

Engineer: to advise on
technical matters

Senior Manager from

different department:
unbiased

INVESTIGATION
REPORT

ACCIDENT DATA CAN:

Who -the injured person

Show patterns and trends

When - date and time

Identify weaknesses in
procedures and policies

Identify areas for

improvements

EMPLOYEES CAN
BE DISCOURAGED
FROM REPORTING
ACCIDENTS BECAUSE
OF:
Ignorance of procedures
Peer pressure
Retribution by
management

Where - location details

What - type of accident and
nature of injury
How - detail of events
Why- analysis of cause
Recommendations
Documentation
Reference to possible
breaches of law
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