This document outlines the steps for properly investigating and documenting a workplace accident: 1) Initial notification involves informing the accident investigator and eliminating hazards at the scene. 2) Investigating the scene includes documenting observations, taking witness statements, and determining the accident sequence. 3) Accident analysis identifies the root causes through techniques like fishbone diagrams and the 5 whys. 4) Risks are then prioritized and prevention methods like new PPE requirements are implemented. 5) Final documentation such as OSHA forms is completed to evaluate the effectiveness of the prevention methods.

1. Tips and Tricks to a Proper Accident Investigation
Zach Pucillo
CSP, E&S Engineer

2. Moderator
Becky Ross
Marketing Manager
Office: (303) 228-8753
bross@kpaonline.com

3. Presenter
Zach Pucillo
Engineer III
KPA
(317) 201-2335
zpucillo@kpaonline.com

4. Questions
• If you have questions
during the presentation,
please submit them using
the “Questions” feature
• Questions will be
answered at the end of the
webinar

5. Overview
-Initial Notification
-Investigating the Scene
-Initial Documentation
-Accident Analysis
-Prioritize Risk
-Prevention Implementation
-Final Documentation

6. Scenario
An employee has just come to your office
stating that Technician Joe has just slipped
and fell in the detail department. He landed
square on his back and is unable to get up.

7. INITIAL NOTIFICATION

8. Initial Notification
Accidents must be reported as soon as they
happen, so how can you work to make this
happen?
-Make sure that employees understand the
potential consequences of not reporting
accidents
-Work with your insurance company
-Workers comp claims can be a lengthy process
due to suspicions

9. Initial Notification
-First aid vs 911
-Inform the accident investigator
-Grab a camera, notebook, and pen
-Head out to the accident scene
-Eliminate dangerous conditions in the area

10. INVESTIGATING THE SCENE

11. Investigating the Scene
Once You Get There
-Do not start any cleanup of the scene
-Determine the witnesses
-Separate them
-Instruct them to write down their account
-Take pictures of the area where the accident
happened
-Take note of any equipment used, the condition
of the floor, PPE in use, was the employee in
a hurry…

12. Investigating the Scene
-Make documented observations on:
– Pre-accident conditions
– Accident sequence
– Post-accident conditions
-Document the facts (i.e.: location, witness
remarks, and contributing factors).
-Determine sequence of events leading to
accident

13. Investigating the Scene
-Use an accident/incident investigation form
-The first half will be the facts
-The middle will involve investigation analysis
-The end will state the prevention method to
be implemented and follow up

14. Investigating the Scene
Conduct the Employee Interviews
-Interview one at a time
-Have the employee tell you a story
-Match their written notes with their story
-Establishes credibility

15. ACCIDENT ANALYSIS

16. Accident Analysis
Analysis Must be Done in a Safety Committee
-Group of employees representing each level
of employment
-Eliminates Bias
-Ensures that Corrective Actions are Assigned
-Establishes Accountability
-Accountability is imperative for follow up

17. Accident Analysis
Root Cause Analysis
-Fishbone Diagram
-Fault Tree Analysis
-FMEA (Failure Mode and Effect Analysis)
-What-If
-HAZOP
-MORT (Management Oversight and Risk Tree)
-Job Safety Analysis

18. Accident Analysis
Root Cause Analysis
-First determine the main causes that contribute
to accidents
-This is done using the Pareto Theory
-Vilfredo Pareto and the land in Italy
-Pareto theory is 80% of the accidents are
caused by 20% of the possible causes

19. Accident Analysis

20. Accident Analysis
Find the Root Cause of the two main causes by
using the fishbone diagram
-Employees cannot be the main cause
-Root causes are always contributed back to
management oversight

21. Accident Analysis

22. Accident Analysis

23. Accident Analysis
5 Whys?
The vehicle will not start. (the problem)
Why? - The battery is dead. (first why)
Why? - The alternator is not functioning. (second why)
Why? - The alternator belt has broken. (third why)
Why? - The alternator belt was well beyond its useful service
life and not replaced. (fourth why)
Why? - The vehicle was not maintained according to the
recommended service schedule. (fifth why, a root cause)
Why? - Replacement parts are not available because of the
extreme age of the vehicle. (sixth why, optional footnote)

24. Accident Analysis
Joe slipped and fell in the detail department
Why? –Because he was not wearing slip resistant
shoes
Why? –Because he does not have any slip resistant
shoes
Why?-Because he is not required to wear them in detail
Why? –Because management does not have a policy
on slip resistant shoes in detail
Why? –Because management has not identified
slipping as a hazard in the detail department

25. Accident Analysis
Fault Tree Analysis
-Deductive reasoning or top down event
structure
-Helps to identify all possible causes in a
system or procedure
-Can be used with boolean algebra to
determine the probabilities of an event
occurring
-Best used in the new design of equipment of
procedure

26. Accident Analysis

27. Accident Analysis

28. Prioritize Risk
Hazard Control Priorities
-Eliminate the Hazard
-Reduce the Hazard Level
-Provide Safety Devices
-Provide Warnings
-Provide Safety Procedures and PPE

29. Prioritize Risk
Risk Management
-Risk Identification
-Risk Analysis
-Eliminating or Reducing the Risk
-Financing the Risk
-Administering the Risk Management Process
WHAT IS AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF RISK?

30. Prioritize Risk
Risk Assesment Matrix

31. Prioritize Risk
-Complacency
-Doing the same job over and over
-Driving example
-Rushing to get a job done
-5:00pm is approaching
-Cutting corners to be more productive

32. Prevention Implementation
-Positive incentive programs are not good
-Peer pressure
-Employee demotivation
-Signage
-Orange dot program
-Safety committee involvement
-Invest money saved into the facility
-Stay away from “If you go…then you get”

33. Prevention Implementation
-Department walk throughs
-Let employees pick the PPE
-Personal Signage

34. Prevention Implementation

35. Prevention Implementation
Anti Fog Bifocal Safety Glasses Goggle Type Glasses
Prescription Safety Glasses Glasses that fit over Prescripts

36. Prevention Implementation
Auto Darkening Welding Helmet
Operation ProtectorsTypical Lens Shade
Electric ArcWelding Helmet 10 to 14
GasWelding Goggle, Faceshield, Helmet 4 to 8
CuttingWelding Goggle, Faceshield, Helmet 3 to 6
Torch BrazingWelding Goggle, Faceshield, Helmet 3 to 4
Torch Soldering Welding Spectacles, Faceshield 1.5 to 3

37. Prevention Implementation
Electric Tire Lifting
Machines

38. Prevention Implementation
Improvements in Hand Protection

39. Prevention Implementation
Good Better Best

40. Prevention Implementation
Slip Resistance

41. Prevention Implementation
Hearing Protection Noise Reduction Ratings
= 91dB
dB 120
+ = 64dB

42. Final Documentation
Complete the accident investigation form
-Prevention Method
-Assigned Action Items
-Method to Measure the Effectiveness
-Evaluate

43. Final Documentation
OSHA 300 Forms
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
New North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS) Codes
4411 Automobile Dealers
4413 Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire
Stores
Employers to report to OSHA, within eight
hours, all work-related in-patient
hospitalizations

44. Final Documentation
OSHA 300 Log

45. Final Documentation
What is recordable?

46. Final Documentation
This Summary Must be Posted from 2/1 to 4/30 Each Year

47. Final Documentation
The following examples are not recordable:
-Present as a member of the general public
-Symptoms arising in work environment that
are solely due to non-work-related event
-Voluntary participation in wellness program
-Eating, drinking or preparing food or drink for
personal consumption

48. Final Documentation
-Personal tasks outside assigned working hours
-Personal grooming, self medication for non-
work-related condition, or intentionally self-
inflicted
-Motor vehicle accident in parking lot/access road
during commute
-Common cold or flu
-Mental illness, unless employee voluntarily
provides a medical opinion from a physician or
licensed health care professional (PLHCP)
having appropriate qualifications and experience
that affirms work-relatedness

49. Final Documentation
Common OSHA 300 Questions Answered
-Do not include the day of injury/illness
-Count the number of calendar days the
employee was unable to work (include weekend
days, holidays, vacation days, etc.)
-Cap day count at 180 days away and/or days
restricted
-May stop day count if employee leaves company
for a reason unrelated to the injury or illness
-If a medical opinion exists, employer must follow
that opinion
-Privacy cases do not require name

50. Summary
Investigating an Accident is a Procedure
Document
Put in the Time to Investigate
Analyze for Remedies
Prioritize Risk
Implement
Document
Evaluate

51. Got a Question? Ask our Expert!

52. Contact Information
www.kpaonline.com
Becky Ross
bross@kpaonline.com
866-356-1735