Simple Accident Investigation

"Who, What, Why, When, Where and How"

A complete accident investigation includes the objective evaluation of all facts, observations, opinions, statements of both the injured or ill employee and any eyewitnesses and the initiation of an action plan to prevent or control similar recurrence. The accuracy and thoroughness with which information and data is obtained and recorded will largely determine the quality of the final report and the effectiveness of the corrective action. Raising these kinds of questions will help push your investigation in the right direction.

Who
Who was injured?
Who was working with him/her?
Who else saw the accident?
Who else was involved?
Who is the employee's immediate supervisor?
Who rendered first aid or medical treatment?
What
What did the injured employee say happened?
What was the injured employee doing at the time of the accident?
What was the position of the worker at the time of the accident?
What is the nature of the injury?
What manufacturing or service operation was being performed?
What materials were being used?
What machine was involved?
What tools were being used?
What safe operating instructions had the employee been given?
What personal protective equipment, if any, was required on the job?
What physical position was the employee in - standing, bending, etc.?
What had others done that may have contributed to the accident?
What operating problem, if any, occurred to cause the accident?
What machine guards, if applicable, were in place?
What did witnesses observe?

I.Simple Accident Investigation

"Who, What, Why, When, Where and How"
What (Continued)
What safety regulations, if any, were not observed?
What unsafe operating conditions, if any, were involved?
What were the lighting, heating, environmental conditions?
What should be done to prevent recurrence?
What will be done, by whom, and by what dates, to prevent recurrence?
What new safety regulations, if any, are needed to prevent recurrence?
What new operating procedures, if any, will be needed to prevent recurrence?
What shift was the employee working?
What ergonomic factors, if any, were involved?
When
When did the accident occur?
When did the employee start his/her shift?
When did the employee first start this job?
When did the employee start with the company?
When did the employee receive job safety training for this job?
When did the supervisor last check on job safety progress?
Why
Why was the employee injured?
Why did the employee do what he/she did?
Why did the other person do what he/she did?
Why was the employee in the position that he/she was in?
Why was the employee using the machine or hand tools involved?
Why did the employee continue working under the circumstances?
Why wasn't the supervisor contacted about the malfunction?

Simple Accident Investigation

"Who, What, Why, When, Where and How"
Where
Where did the accident occur?
Where was the employee standing/working at the time?
Where were the eyewitnesses at the time?
Where was the supervisor at the time?
Where were the other people who were involved at the time?
Where did the injured employee first receive first aid/medical attention?
How
How many continuous shifts had the employee worked up to the accident?
How did the employee get injured?
How could the employee have avoided the injury?
How could fellow workers have helped avoid the injury?
How could witnesses have prevented the injury?
How could company management have prevented the injury?