Assume the SMS Failed
When conducting an accident investigation, a basic assumption should be that somehow the SMS has failed. The investigation will either verify this assumption, or prove it wrong. Most of the time, it will be verified. Why is that? Most accidents in the workplace result from unsafe work behaviors.
- Unsafe behaviors are the primary surface cause for the vast majority of all workplace accidents;
- hazardous conditions are the primary surface cause for a small percentage of workplace accidents; and
- uncontrollable (unknowable) "acts of God" account for the remaining very small percentage.
These statistics imply that because SMS weaknesses contribute in some way to workplace hazardous conditions and unsafe behaviors, those weaknesses are ultimately responsible for almost all workplace accidents. So, the basic assumption should be that, ultimately, most accidents are the result of SMS weaknesses, not unsafe behaviors or hazardous conditions.
To effectively fulfill your responsibilities as an accident investigator, you must not close the investigation until these root causes and solutions have been identified.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-5. Accident investigators should assume that most accidents are caused by _____.
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