Advanced Accident Investigation and Reporting

Introduction

In spite of all our best efforts, accidents and incidents occasionally occur. These unplanned or undesired events can adversely affect a company’s work operations and may include work-related injuries, occupational illnesses, property damage, spills, and fires. Critically all incidents should therefore be thoroughly investigated demonstrating a proven company-wide process of efficiency and effectiveness linked to the Safety Management System (SMS). The more serious the incident the more extensive the investigation.

However, even a minor incident or near-miss incident also requires a thorough investigation as this may reveal significant potential for a serious future incident should the conditions be left uncorrected. While incidents seem to happen for obvious reasons, there may be things that contribute to an accident that are not always immediately apparent. Attendance on this training course will provide you with the confidence and necessary professionalism to enable a thorough Accident Investigation as soon as practicable after the event.

This training course will highlight:

• Why and who conducts an investigation?
• Investigation methodology, the essential six-step process
• Characteristics of an effective incident/accident analysis program
• The two major components that contribute to the cause of an incident
• Why investigations must be constructive, professional, credible, and timely
• Safety Management Systems on promoting a pro-active Safety Culture

Objectives

At the end of this training course, you will learn to:

• Develop the knowledge and skills required to investigate all adverse events.
• Understand the causes of accidents and ill-health.
• Understand the elements that combine to form an accident.
• Develop confidence & professionalism in investigating, interviewing & reporting
• Ensure all employees & contractors are aware of the SMS and ‘Safety Culture’
• Apply the legal requirements and company procedures

Training Methodology

This is an interactive course. There will be open question and answer sessions, regular group exercises and activities, videos, case studies, and presentations on best practice. Participants will have the opportunity to share with the facilitator and other participants on what works well and not so well for them, as well as work on issues from their own organizations. The online course is conducted online using MS-Teams/ClickMeeting.

Who Should Attend?

This Advanced Accident Investigation & Reporting training course is suitable for those officers who may become involved in these investigations as well as Managers wishing to have a deeper knowledge of this process and crucially how it affects the interpretation of the law, regulations, and company procedures. This course is suitable for a wide range of professionals but will greatly benefit:

• HSE Officers
• Supervisors
• Inspectors
• Advisors
• Auditors
• Team Leaders/Managers

Course Outline

Day 1: Incident and Accident Theories

• Incident & Accident Analysis Overview, exploring Accident Theory

• Identify accident and incident causation factors

• What are the necessary conditions for an accident to happen?

• Unsafe Acts V. Unsafe Conditions: Avoiding the “Blame Game”

• Role of the HSE Team Leader and a trained and prepared workforce during an Investigation

• Links between Risk Assessment and Incident Investigation

• Factors that contribute to establishing a good safety culture?

• Case Studies – organizations who survived and those who failed

Day 2: Investigation Methodology

• The six-step accident investigation process

• Scene Protection and Examination - Who should be involved at this stage

• Listen and Learn, and Learn to Look and Listen More

• The importance of Note Taking v. reliance on memory

• Scene Photographs (+video) and Sketching – equipment required

• Case Studies

Day 3: Root Cause Analysis

• What is the “Root Cause” and why is it important

• Basic v. Root Cause: Getting from “effect” to “cause”

• What questions to ask to confirm “Root Cause”

• From Root Cause to Prevention

• Consider the Human Error issues

• Help to establish and maintain regulatory due diligence

• The role of policies, equipment, and training on accident prevention

• Case Studies

Day 4: Interviewing Techniques, Facts, Evidence & Witness Statements

• Purpose and preparation for the Interview

• Who conducts the interview?

• Where to conduct an interview

• Building Rapport with the witness

• Obtaining Witness Statements

• Forms and Format

• Inculpatory and Exculpatory statements

• Group Exercise (Obtaining Statements)

Day 5: Report Writing & Practical Exercises

• Forms, format, and structure

• Effective Writing Skills – simple, self-explanatory, and straightforward

• Writing the Report – the aim is to persuade and seek action

• Help to prevent recurrence – cost savings (human and financial)

• Class exercise - Accident Investigation based on case study

• Class exercise - Produce the outline of a suitable report from the above