What is accident investigation?

- An accident/incident investigation identifies any unsafe conditions, acts, or procedures that may
have contributed to the injury/illness to the worker and prevents others from being injured in
the same manner. Conducting an accident/incident investigation is required by Provincial
Legislation such as the Workers Compensation Act.
- used to prevent future accidents by determining root cause. As such, the investigation or
analysis must produce information leading to corrective actions to prevent or reduce the
number of accidents in the workplace.

Purpose of accident investigation

- The goal of an incident investigation should be learning. Communication is the cornerstone of

learning and if there is any fear at all in those being interviewed, they are likely not to share all
details of what occurred. Ensuring no discipline/punishment is issued as part of the investigation
is key to eliminate the communication barrier of fear.
- An accident investigation may have different purposes

 Identify and describe the true course of events (what, where, when)
 Identify the direct and root causes / contributing factors of the accident (why)
 Identify risk reducing measures to prevent future, comparable accidents (learning)
 Investigate and evaluate the basis for potential criminal prosecution (blame)
 Evaluate the question of guilt in order to assess the liability for compensation (pay)

- The prime objective of an incident investigation is to prevent future incidents. They are not to
point blame, or to apply discipline. The incident investigation helps us to gather the factual
information of Who, What, Where, When and How. Once this information has been gathered,
we can analyze the incident and identify the Why or the root causes.

Accident Investigation Personnel

- Ideally, an investigation would be conducted by someone or a group of people who are:

 experienced in incident causation models,
 experienced in investigative techniques,
 knowledgeable of any legal or organizational requirements,
 knowledgeable in occupational health and safety fundamentals,
 knowledgeable in the work processes, procedures, persons, and industrial relations
environment for that particular situation,
 able to use interview and other person-to-person techniques effectively (such as
mediation or conflict resolution),
 knowledgeable of requirements for documents, records, and data collection; and
 able to analyze the data gathered to determine findings and reach recommendations.
- Should the immediate supervisor be on the team?
 The advantage is that this person is likely to know most about the work and persons
involved and the current conditions. Furthermore, the supervisor can usually take
immediate remedial action. The counter argument is that there may be an attempt to
gloss over the supervisor’s shortcomings in the incident. This situation should not arise if
the incident is investigated by a team of people, and if the worker representative(s) and
 the investigation team members review all incident investigation findings and
recommendations thoroughly.

Accident Report

- Step 1: Assess the Injury

 When a workplace accident occurs, the first thing to do is to identify any injured
employees and assess the severity of the injury. Once the severity of the injury has been
ascertained, the employer must determine if immediate medical attention is necessary.
- Step 2: Obtain Medical Treatment if Necessary

 If no medical attention or only first-aid is required, the employer may proceed to Step 3.
 If immediate medical attention is necessary, the employer should have a manager take
the employee to the nearest emergency room or urgent care facility or call 911 to
request medical assistance to the worksite depending on the severity of the injuries.
- Step 3: Interview Injured Employee and Witness(es)
 Once the injured employee’s medical needs have been seen to, the next step is to
interview the employee and gather information on what, when, how and why the injury
occurred. The injured employee should complete an incident report to provide an
overview of what happened to cause the accident.
- Step 4: Observe Accident Scene and Analyze the Facts
 Next, employers should observe the accident scene and take photographs of the area,
including objects, wet floors and equipment that may have contributed to the accident
(e.g., filing cabinet drawer was left open, and employee tripped over the drawer;
electrical cord was exposed, and employee tripped over cord; crack in concrete floor
caused an uneven surface).
- Step 5: File a Workers’ Compensation Claim
 Next, organizations should contact their insurance carriers and file a work-related injury
report. All information required by the insurance carrier should be provided; employers
should also provide statements and any other relevant supporting documentation,
including available doctor’s notes, therapy and medical treatment statements, and a
return-to-work statement
- Step 6: Follow Up
 The employer should follow up with the employee after the accident investigation has
concluded to see how the employee is doing. If the employee is hospitalized, someone
from the organization should visit the employee in the hospital. A get-well card signed
by co-workers, a fruit basket or flowers will send the message that the company really
cares about its employees and will encourage the employee to return to work.
- Step 7: Corrective Action
 Corrective action should be identified in terms of how to prevent a recurrence and
improve the overall operations of the company. If an employee violated a major or
minor safety rule, the employer will need to follow its company work rule violation
policy and take the corrective action necessary. Taking immediate corrective action will
ensure workplace safety and help reduce or eliminate work-related injuries. If a
company has a safety committee, members should review investigations of all accidents
to help form recommendations for appropriate corrective action to prevent future
reoccurrence.
 Reference

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