MODULE 6: EFFECTIVE INCIDENT / ACCIDENT ANALYSIS

Going reactive!

If your hazard identification and control program fails to eliminate workplace hazards, chances are pretty good an accident will happen. When it does, it's important to conduct an effective analysis of the accident process. Unfortunately, some employers perform accident investigations merely to place blame. When this occurs, the process becomes a very costly reactive procedure.

The only way to receive any benefit from accident investigation is to make sure root causes are uncovered and permanently corrected. This module will help you understand the simple, but important steps in an effective accident investigation.

Although accident investigation is a valuable and necessary tool to help reduce accident losses, it is always considerably more expensive to rely on accident investigation than hazard investigation as a strategy to reduce losses and eliminate hazards in the workplace. In some cases it may cost hundreds of thousands of dollars more as a result of direct, indirect, and unknown accident costs.

But, when the accident happens...it happens. And it's important to minimize accident costs to the company. This can be done if effective accident investigation procedures are used.

So, let's take a quick look at some basic concepts and then discuss the first steps to take in building an effective accident investigation program.