Conducting
an Accident Investigation
Course 102
Safety Certified Supervisor Series
MODULE 5: DETERMINING SURFACE AND ROOT CAUSES
Time to analyze
for cause
The direct
cause of injury
Whenever an injury occurs, a harmful
level of energy is somehow transferred to our body. We should describe the
nature of that energy transfer and refer to it as the direct cause of the
injury. Here are the various forms of energy that can be harmful:
- ACOUSTIC ENERGY - Excessive
noise and vibration.
- CHEMICAL ENERGY - Corrosive,
toxic, flammable, or reactive substances. Involves a release of energy ranging
from "not violent" to "explosive" and "capable
of detonation".
- ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Low
voltage (below 440 volts) and high voltage (above 440 volts).
- KINETIC (IMPACT) ENERGY -
Energy from "things in motion" and "impact," and are
associated with the collision of objects in relative motion to each other.
Includes impact between moving objects, moving object against a stationary
object, falling objects, flying objects, and flying particles. Also involves
movement resulting from hazards of high pressure pneumatic, hydraulic systems.
- MECHANICAL ENERGY - Cut,
crush, bend, shear, pinch, wrap, pull, and puncture. Such hazards are associated
with components that move in circular, transverse (single direction), or
reciprocating motion.
- POTENTIAL (STORED) ENERGY
- Involves "stored energy." Includes objects that are under pressure,
tension, or compression; or objects that attract or repulse one another.
Susceptible to sudden unexpected movement. Includes gravity - potential
falling objects, potential falls of persons. Includes forces transferred
biomechanically to the human body during lifting.
- RADIANT ENERGY HAZARDS
- Relatively short wavelength energy forms within the electromagnetic spectrum.
Includes infra-red, visible, microwave, ultra-violet, x-ray, and ionizing
radiation.
- THERMAL ENERGY - Excessive
heat, extreme cold, sources of flame ignition, flame propagation, and heat
related explosions.
