Conducting an Accident Investigation
Course 102
Safety Certified Supervisor Series

MODULE 3: CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS

Preparing for the interview

You're first task is to determine who needs to be interviewed. Questions will need to designed around the interviewee. Consequently, each interview will be a very unique experience. Interviews should occur as soon as possible, but usually do not begin until things have settled down a bit. Some people you may want to consider for an interview include:

• The victim. To determine specific events leading up to and including the accident.
  
• Co-workers. To establish what actual vs. appropriate procedures have been used.
  
• Direct supervisor. To get background information on the victim. He or she can provide proceduralinformation about the task that was being performed.
  
• Manager. Can be the main source for information on related systems.
  
• Training department. To get information on quantity and quality of training the victim and others have received.
  
• Personnel department. To get information on the victim's and others' work history, discipline, appraisals.
  
• Maintenance personnel. To determine background on equipment/machinery maintenance.
  
• Emergency responders. To learn what they saw when they arrived and during the response.
  
• Medical personnel. To get medical information (as allowed by law.)
  
• Coroner. Can be a valuable source to determine type/extent of fatal injuries.
  
• Police. If they filed a report.
  
• Other interested persons. Anyone interested in the accident may be a valuable source of information.
  
• The victim's spouse and family. They may have insight into the victims state of mind or other work issues.