Conducting an Accident Investigation
Course 102
Safety Certified Supervisor Series

MODULE 2: DOCUMENTING THE ACCIDENT SCENE

Methods to document the accident scene (continued)

Sketch the accident scene.

Sketches are very important because they compliment the information in photos, and are good at indicating distances among the various elements of the accident scene which establishes "position evidence." It is important to be as precise as possible when making sketches. The basic components of the sketch are:

• Documentation. Date, time, location, identity of objects, victims, etc.
• Spatial relationships. Measurements.
• Location of photographs. Employment Act or any standards issued by Oregon OSHA.

Sketches are valuable because they reconstruct the accident in model form and are best able to indicate movement through time. They also help establish testimony if it becomes necessary to defend against a damage or injury claim. The sketch may also help establish a claim against a supplier or manufacturer. You don't have to be a professional illustrator to make a decent sketch, but you must be accurate in your measurements. Take a look at the sketch below as a sample of a useful sketch.