Conducting an Accident Investigation
Course 102
Safety Certified Supervisor Series

MODULE 1: INITIATING THE PROCESS

Two things disappear 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.