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OHS Webinar – Accident Investigations
June 17, 2015
Welcome!
• What is go2HR?• What to expect during this OHS Webinar• Upcoming key dates:
– OHS Webinar: July 15 – Workplace Ergonomics– OHS Summit: Sept 24 – register online!– COR Internal Auditor Training: July 24
• www.go2hr.ca/subscribe • Alex Booth, Regional Manager, Employers' Advisers
Office
Accident/Incident Investigations
2015 Employers’ Advisers Office. All rights reserved. The Employers’ Advisers Office encourages the copying, reproduction and distribution for Employer or Employee use of this document. However, no part of this
document may be copied, reproduced, or distributed for profit or other commercial enterprise, nor may any part be incorporated into any other publication, without written permission of the Provincial Government of British Columbia.
Objectives
• Identify when WorkSafeBC must be contacted• Identify when an investigation must be completed• Prepare an incident report• Identify the benefits of investigations
• Independent from WorkSafeBC• Advice• Assistance• Education• Representation • WorkSafeBC issues
Employers’ Advisers Office (EAO)
Occupational Health & Safety Requirements
WC Act
Part 3
OH&S Regulations
&
Prevention Policies
OH&S Guidelines
Accident Definition
A sudden event that is not planned or intended and that causes damage or injury
Incident Definition
• Includes an accident or other occurrence which resulted in or had the potential for causing an injury or occupational disease
Investigation Definition
Analysis and account of an incident based on
information gathered by a thorough examination
of ALL FACTORS involved
Purpose of Investigations
• Prevent recurrences and injuries• Find the causes• Saves time, money and lives• It’s the law!
The Law
Workers Compensation Act
• Part 1 – Compensation to Workers & Dependents (Divisions 1-6) (Sections 2-101)• Part 2 – Liability of Employers in Industries not within the Scope of Part 1
(Sections 102-105)• Part 3 – Occupational Health & Safety
(Division 1-17) (Sections 106-230)• Part 4 – Appeals
(Sections 231-260)
Immediate Notice of Certain Accidents
Workers Compensation Act s. 172 • Must immediately notify WorkSafeBC
• Serious injury or death• Major structural failure• Major release of a hazardous substance• An incident required by regulation
• Do Not disturb the accident scene
Incidents that must be Investigated
Workers Compensation Act s. 173 • Must immediately investigate into the cause(s)
– Reported under s. 172– Resulted in an injury requiring medical treatment– Potential for causing serious injury (Near Miss)– An incident required by regulation
• Does not apply to motor vehicle accidents on public street or highway
Why Investigate Near Misses?
Investigation Process
Workers Compensation Act s.174• Carried out by knowledgeable persons• If possible, participation of employer and worker reps• Names, addresses and telephone numbers of witnesses
to be recorded
Bill 9 - Investigations
What HASN’T Changed:• When an investigation is required and who is to conduct it• Required Investigation and Corrective Action Reports• Corrective Action Report to be provided to Joint Committee
or Worker Representative, or be posted
What HAS Changed:• Process – now two steps:
• preliminary investigation and report within 48 hours of incident;
• full investigation and report within 30 days of incident
NEW
Preliminary Investigation Requirements
Section 175 of the Workers Compensation Act:• Identify unsafe conditions, acts, • Complete a preliminary within 48 hours• Take corrective action without undue delay• Provide Corrective Action Report to Joint
Committee or worker representative, or post
NEW
Full Investigation Requirements
Section 176 of the Workers Compensation Act:• Full Investigation to:
– determine cause;– identify unsafe conditions, acts or
procedures that significantly contributed; – determine corrective action.
NEW
Full Investigation Requirements
Section 176 (continued):
• Undertake corrective action without undue delay• Prepare a report of corrective action taken or to
be taken• Provide to the Joint Committee/Worker Rep or
post
NEW
Key points to the changes
-Don’t panic!-Preliminary vs Full investigation-Follow the requirements-Adapt your forms to comply with Policy D10-175-1 and Policy D10-176-1 not just OH&S regulation 3.4
NEW
Prevention of Reporting
Workers Compensation Act s.177• Employer or supervisor must not attempt to prevent
a worker from reporting to WorkSafeBC an injury, illness, death, or hazardous condition, or allegations of these.
What is the most important thing you need to conduct an investigation?
The Investigation
A step-by-step process
Secure the Scene
• Eliminate the hazards:– Control chemicals– De-energize– De-pressurize– Illuminate– Shore it up– Ventilate
Isolate the Scene
• Barricade the area and keep everyone out• Except those providing care, law enforcement,
and investigators allowed entry• Protect the evidence
Provide Care to the Injured• Ensure that medical care is provided to the
injured people before proceeding with the investigation
Ask “What Happened”
• Get a brief overview of the situation• Not a detailed report yet
Interview Process• Interview as soon as
possible after the incident– Do not interrupt medical
care to interview• Interview each person
separately• Do not allow witnesses to
confer prior to interview
The Interview
• Put the person at ease.• Fact finding NOT fault finding• Don’t ask leading questions• Take notes• Summarize what you have been told• Ask for recommendations to prevent
recurrence
Gather Evidence
• Examine the accident scene • Diagram the scene• Take photographs• Review records
Contributing Factors
• Environmental• Design• Systems & Procedures• Human Behaviour
Environmental Factors
• Noise• Vapours, fumes, dust• Light• Heat• Weather• Insects and animals
Design Factors
• Workplace layout• Design of tools &
equipment• Maintenance
Systems and Procedures
• Lack of systems & procedures
• Inappropriate systems & procedures
• Training in procedures• Housekeeping
Human Behaviour
Lack of safety leadership
Lack of supervision
Lack of Training
Missing guard
Rules not enforced
Poor work proceduresPurchasing unsafe equipment
No follow-up/feedback
Poor safety management Poor safety leadership
Didn’t follow procedures
Poor housekeeping
Horseplay
Ignored safety rules
Defective tools
Don’t know howNo MSDS’s
Root Causes Hazardous Conditions/Practices Contributing
Factors
Did not report hazardEquipment failure
Root Causes
Common pitfalls…
• Believing carelessness is a cause of incidents• Assuming contradictory evidence indicates
falsehood• Looking for only one basic cause• Forgetting about the personal feelings of others• Failing to keep the information confidential
If an investigation is not completed
• Orders could be written• An administrative penalty could be imposed• It could happen again!
MSI Investigation• Focus on a different mechanism of injury• Process does not change• Identify risk factors and assess risks • Use a checklist to keep investigation in focus
Benefits of Accident Investigation
• Prevents recurrences• Identifies outdated procedures• Improvements to work environment• Improvement of operational and safety
procedures• Raises safety awareness• Improves workplace morale
Summary• Remember the Near Miss • Go to scene of accident promptly• Get the facts; study possible causes• Develop corrective actions• Consult with joint committee about possible
solutions• Ensure investigation reports completed and
submitted to WorkSafeBC when required• Foster environment where workers are
empowered to report accidents and incidents
COR Program
• Element 5: Investigation of Incidents/Accidents• 10% of total audit score• 100 points available• Verification method: documentation &
interviews• What will the audit measure?• Key concepts & implementation tips
Resources for You
Employers’ Advisers Office
www.labour.gov.bc.ca/eao
WorkSafeBC
www.worksafebc.com
go2HR
www.go2hr.ca/health-safety
Trina Pollard
Manager, Industry Health & Safety
go2HR
(604) 633-9787 ext 259
Employers’ Advisers Office
1-800-925-2233
Zito Kare
Industry Health & Safety Specialist
go2HR
(604) 633-9787 ext 220
Questions?
