Incident
Investigation -- Tips, Techniques & Trivia
It's been
suggested to me that I offer my basic (half day) investigation
course as a web based session.
The program
would consist of three 40 to 60 minutes live sessions delivered
once a week every few months. Participants would have the option
of completing a written case study at the end of their session
and if completed a certificate would be issued.
The audience
would likely be supervisors, lead hands or anyone requiring a
basic knowledge of the investigation process.
Before I launch
into this I'd value your feedback on the concept. Please, let
me know what you think?
Jeff
Pre-Job Safety Meeting Mulligan ("a
do over")
Without exception the number one thing that comes
back to "bite" organizations after a serious workplace
accident is the quality and content of their Pre-Job Safety Meeting
or Tool Box meeting reports used to address safety at the start
of the work day. It's always the one thing supervisors wish they
could take a "Mulligan" on.
After an accident these reports are frequently embarrassingly
incomplete and of little value from a due diligence point of view.
No doubt thousands of these are completed and duly filed away
on a daily basis never to be seen again. As long as no one gets
hurt they may appear to be benefiting site safety; unfortunately
too often after the accident they aren't worth the paper they
are printed on!
The concept of these meetings and its documentation has tremendous
safety value. However, most workers and supervisors do not fully
understand the thinking behind the process and see it as something
their boss or the client wants, "so fill it out quickly and
let's get to work!" When I question supervisors about a poorly
completed form the response I get is "our guys are good carpenters
or steelworkers or ??, but they are not writers, and they aren't
comfortable with paper-work."
I've investigated fatalities where the hazard that killed the
worker was identified in the Pre-Job Meeting and then ignored.
I've also seen many cases where policy and forms existed and meetings
were required but no Pre-Job meeting took place, or situations
where obvious hazards existed but until the accident happened
everyone thought they were of little consequence. Such is the
benefit of 20-20 hindsight.
From a due diligence point of view these pre job safety meetings
and the supporting documentation will be a most critical piece
of evidence in defending your organization. These meetings are
the last chance, the point of no return so to speak to identify
hazards and provide safe working instructions to employees.
So what's my suggested fix? Simplify the documentation process
to make it user friendly to record information, train workers
on both the value and the process, encourage (demand) worker input
in meetings and documentation and finally, do spot audits to see
if what's written is addressing workplace hazards.
Investigation
Kit
Kit
Details (pdf article)
Pricing
and Ordering Information
E-Learning
Programs
My
E-Learning programs are available without cost to newsletter subscribers.
Each takes about an hour to complete.
Incident
Investigation
The Incident Investigation program provides an overview or introduction
to the process.
Collision
Scene Management
The Collision Scene Management session would benefit drivers who
may have to gather collision scene evidence.
Alberta Occupational Health and
Safety Act
Convictions
- Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act
Charges
- Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act
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