ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION GUIDE

Employees are your most valuable assets and, while accidents can and do happen, repeats of
the same type of accidents should not happen. Effective and thorough accident investigations
show employees that you are concerned for their safety and well-being. Other reasons for
accident investigation may include:
 Identifying root causes to accidents;
 Addressing liability issues;
 Exposing errors in processes;
 Identifying and eliminating hazards;
 Decreasing workers’ compensation costs;
 Correcting unsafe acts and unsafe conditions; and
 Making recommendations for preventing future accidents.

Prevention of future injuries (to employees and customers) and property damage should always
be the focus of an investigation. Thorough investigation of all injuries and property damage can
lead to many benefits. This includes identifying the root causes of injuries, property damage,
and auto accidents, and giving you and your employees the opportunity to suggest ways to
change processes, actions, or behaviors to prevent future, similar-type injuries or accidents.

Thorough accident investigation is necessary because all incidents have a cause that can be
determined. If you correct the cause of the injury/accident/property damage, you greatly reduce
the risk of another similar injury.

Through proper accident investigation, we can begin to understand the failures, which often give
rise to certain patterns of events. We can then improve the conditions that led to the
accident/incident by submitting improvement recommendations and keeping them in an open
file until all hazards noted in the accident investigation report are resolved. Doing so should help
provide a safer, healthier, and more profitable atmosphere for your company.

To help you reach this goal, there are 10 primary steps for completing a successful accident
investigation and written report. These steps include:
1. Understanding why accidents are investigated;
2. Evaluating the objectives of an accident investigation;
3. Pre-planning the investigation;
4. Responding to the accident scene;
5. Controlling the accident scene;
6. Investigating the accident;
7. Reviewing the evidence surrounding the accident;
8. Determining the root cause(s) of the accident;
 9. Developing corrective and preventive actions; and
10. The employee involved in the accident should be involved in the accident investigation
process and asked what they would do to prevent it from occurring again. The results of
the accident, investigation and corrective measures taken should be communicated to
all employees to create safety awareness. This is one of the most important steps.

These steps should help you better understand the importance of accident investigation and
effectively investigate an accident in order to prevent future accidents, or at least minimize the
effects of an accident.

Effective accident investigation starts before an accident occurs with the establishment of a well
thought–out accident investigation procedure. Pre-planning for accident investigation is
especially important because the quantity and quality of relevant information begins to diminish
immediately following the accident. By establishing the essential stages and steps of an
accident investigation ahead of time, you can minimize or eliminate the loss of relevant
information through cleanup efforts or possible blurring of witnesses’ recollections.

In many cases, supervisors are inclined to fix blame rather than eliminate accident causes. This
punitive approach results in “covering up” by non-supervisory personnel, to the detriment of the
entire accident prevention program and company. The study of cause will usually indicate
blame, if any, and suitable action can be taken. Punitive action is justified in safety violations
only after each person is provided the proper education and training, and physical hazards are
eliminated. The analysis of the accident must result in recommendations that reduce the
number of accidents and their severity, not in finger pointing.

Investigative Techniques

Supervisors have the best knowledge of their department and subordinates, and are the best
person to complete the accident investigation report. A supervisor charged with the
responsibility of accident investigation will find the following guides helpful:

1. Get to the scene. Investigators should arrive at the scene as soon as possible after the
accident has been reported to obtain facts quickly while they are still fresh.

2. Interview injured persons if conditions warrant. Permanent or temporary physical and mental
characteristics that may have contributed to the accident and the extent of the injuries
should be noted.

3. Interview witnesses to obtain their versions of the accident. Ask open-ended questions.
Bear in mind that statements taken from witnesses immediately after the incident, before
they have time to compare stories with each other, are often the most reliable. Get a
statement, even if a brief one, as soon as possible. For best results, allow each witness to
tell what happened in his or her own way and confirm what they say. They also can
complete a witness statement form.

4. Physical evidence may help determine the cause of the accident. Note mechanical defects
and take measurements of distances and dimensions. Was the employee wearing proper
personal protective equipment; were glasses being worn if needed, is fatigue an issue; is
medication an issue, etc. If at all possible, take photographs of the scene for future
reference and to record the extent of damage or injury.

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5. All other evidence should be recorded regarding the accident. This includes weather, road
conditions, traffic signal locations, and use of seat belts if the accident involves motor
vehicles. Give consideration to adequate lighting, machine condition and guarding, and use
of safety equipment and following proper procedures in shop and field accidents.

6. Transfer all information accurately to a standard accident report and summary form.

7. The most important outcome of any accident investigation is the determination of cause
factors and the implementation of suitable corrective measures. Appropriate action for
hazard elimination should be quickly recommended.

8. To verify that corrective actions were taken, experience has shown that follow-up is
important. All recommendations should remain open/pending until corrective measures are
completed. Specific employees should be assigned the responsibility of completing the
corrective measures in a suitable amount of time.

Accidents and the Supervisor

1. In investigating and reporting accidents, supervisors must avoid the natural inclination to
“gloss over” their own shortcomings or those of their subordinates. They will gain the
respect of their employees and superiors by honestly reporting their mistakes rather than
by attempting to conceal a deficiency that may continue to cause accidents.

2. When making an investigation, a supervisor must identify the “real/root” causes of the
accident, which normally will be revealed as specific unsafe acts or conditions. After the
facts are compiled, the supervisor should ask, “What caused the employee to do the job
wrong?”

a. A poor supervisor will make the dangerous mistake of simply attributing the accident to
carelessness, without identifying the specific unsafe act or condition.

b. A good supervisor, asking himself the above question, will come up with an answer that
he can do something about. He recognizes that he can correct the safety deficiencies
because he realizes they are the result of supervisory action or inaction.

Supervisory Failure

Unfortunately, the “cause behind the cause” of many accidents is often the supervisor’s failure
to meet his accident prevention responsibilities. Some common examples of supervisory failure
revealed by a continuing review of accident reports are listed below. This list does not cover all
incidents of supervisory failure resulting in accidents, but rather gives examples that occur with
disturbing frequency:

1. Failing to use simple, understandable instructions and failing to follow up to ensure

compliance.

2. Failing to frequently visit areas of responsibility.

3. Permitting employees to enter hazardous areas or perform hazardous tasks prior to taking
the necessary precautions or without ensuring the wearing of protective clothing and
equipment.

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4. Failing to correct previously reported hazards.

5. Giving inadequate instructions, that is, telling an employee what to do but failing to tell him
how to do it.

6. Permitting, and in some cases directing, unlicensed or inexperienced personnel to drive

vehicles or operate equipment.

7. Failing to offer driver training (even with experienced drivers) at hire and annually.

8. Permitting new and inexperienced personnel to work on power machinery and/or permitting
machinery to be operated without proper guards in place or proper training.

9. Failing to ensure the use of proper tools and equipment for the job at hand.

10. Permitting personnel to ride on areas of vehicles or fork lift not designed for such purposes
or on loads that might shift.

You should use an accident investigation form that is tailored to the type of accident, i.e. Auto
Accident, Worker Injury, Property, or Liability. These forms and accident witness forms are
available on Prevention Connection.

It is beneficial to put together an Accident Investigation Kit by assembling everything that is

needed in one place such as a briefcase, box, etc. The kit should include a clipboard with
accident forms, pens, flashlight, tape measure, caution tape, rain cover, disposable camera, this
guide, etc. It should be ready at all times for a supervisor to use in the event of an accident.