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701 Effective Safety Committee Operations
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Training in Accident Investigation Procedures

In some companies, safety committees are responsible for reviewing and evaluating accident reports.

As a safety committee member, you may be involved in accident investigations.

It is important that safety committee members understand effective accident investigation procedures and what a good accident report looks like.

Six-Step Accident Investigation Procedure

One effective process for conducting accident investigations includes six steps to assess, analyze, and evaluate facts to develop permanent corrective actions.

Step 1: Secure the accident scene to ensure material evidence is not moved.

Step 2: Gather data and information using observation, interviews, photos, sketches, etc.

Step 3: Develop the sequence of events before, during, and immediately after the accident.

Step 4: Analyze each event for surface and root causes that contributed to the event.

Step 5: Develop recommendations for immediate and long-term corrective actions.

Step 6: Write the accident report that includes findings and recommendations. Do not include fault-finding accusations.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

4-7. What is the purpose of assessing, analyzing, and evaluating facts during an accident investigation?