Advanced Accident Investigation and Reporting

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 which 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 programme
• 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

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

This Advanced Accident Investigation & Reporting training course is suitable for those officers who may become involved in these investigation 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 to a wide range of professionals but will greatly benefit:

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

Participants to this ICL course will receive a copy of a comprehensive manual, copy of all slides and handout material with a thorough explanation of all the related subjects covered by the seminar outline with the presenter utilising a variety of proven learning teaching and facilitation techniques. Student participation, is encouraged with syndicate work, DVD material, case studies and assessments.

This training course is designed to enable Safety Officers and others to understand the concepts of Advanced Accident Investigation & Reporting, how to successfully and professionally perform an effective investigation and to report recommendations to management to elicit improvements in HSE and therefore prevent re-occurrence.

Day One: 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 towards establishing a good safety culture?
• Case Studies – organisation’s who survived and those who failed

Day Two: Investigation Methodology

• 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 Three: 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 Four: 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)

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