3 Steps for Effective Accident and Injury Investigations

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The purpose of performing an accident and injury investigation is to prevent an accident and/or injury from happening again in the same manner. The obvious reasons are to protect other employees and to reduce any potential liability on the part of the employer. However, you must also consider that depending on the type of accident and/or severity level of the injury, OSHA may become involved and require immediate action. This is especially true with certain types of injuries that may include, but not be limited to, deep lacerations, dismemberment, loss of an eye, and death. Therefore, it is critical that a follow-up investigation be performed as soon as possible.

What to Consider During an Investigation:

Unfortunately, accident and/or injury investigations are often easier said than done. There are usually a lot of factors to consider when it comes to an accident or injury that include: 

  • Affected person or persons

  • Witnesses

  • Equipment, operations, and/or processes

  • Policies, procedures, and programs

  • Training

  • Immediate work environment

  • Management systems

Performing an investigation after an employee experiences an accident and/or injury can provide your facility with an effective means of preventing that incident from happening again. Here are three basic steps for conducting an effective accident investigation:

Step 1: Root Cause Analysis

It is important to conduct a root cause analysis of the accident and/or injury as soon as possible after the incident. Therefore, it is important to work with a Safety consulting firm that is able to provide an immediate response when an incident occurs. There are often multiple causes for an accident and performing a thorough and timely investigation after the accident will help you most accurately identify all the factors that led to it.

When working with our clients, we have discovered that responsiveness is a key element in assuring that an accident gets documented properly. Being on-site at a facility as soon as possible after the event allows us to observe the conditions as they were at the time of the accident, take photos, gather any relevant evidence, and speak with witnesses to fully understand the chain of events that led to the accident occurring.

The findings of the investigation should be documented in a written report that clearly lays out the timeline of events that led to the accident and/or injury. The step-by-step account should include all the possible causes at each step.

Step 2: Action Plan for Corrective Measures

After determining the primary, as well secondary reason (if applicable), for the occurrence, create an action plan for corrective measures to be implemented. The plan should specifically address the root causes and provide actionable recommendations. A deadline should be set for the implementation of corrective actions along with monitoring to ensure that all actions are completed.

You will then need to close out the findings, ensure all regulatory requirements are met, and complete all injury and/or illness reporting on the OSHA Logs. After the corrective measures have been implemented, it is also wise to evaluate their effectiveness and make any adjustments if necessary.

Step 3: Third-Party Mediator During OSHA Investigation

A knowledgeable Safety professional can provide guidance as a third-party mediator between your facility and the OSHA inspector to help ensure a flawless interaction. Throughout the OSHA investigative process, your Safety professional should provide attention to detail by taking notes, ensuring effective communication, and guaranteeing proper protocol is followed by both parties involved. They can also make sure that deadlines are not exceeded and that nothing is left in translation. We also recommend working with a Safety professional who is experienced at informal negotiations with OSHA so that they can provide the necessary support for potentially reducing fines and other legal actions as well. 

It is important to remember that the responsibility of the employer is to provide a safe workplace for their employees. An effective accident and/or injury investigation is an important part of this approach and should not be overlooked.

KERAMIDA is a full-service Environmental, Security, Health and Safety consulting firm that provides clients with rapid response on-site visits after a workplace accident to conduct thorough accident and injury investigations. We also provide clients with support during OSHA investigations. Fill out our quick response form or call (800) 508-8034 to speak with one of our professionals today.

Blog Author

Andrew Tirmenstein
Senior Project Manager, Security, Health and Safety Services
ISO 45001 & ISO 14001 Auditor
KERAMIDA Inc.

Contact Andrew at atirmenstein@keramida.com.