Accidents
An accident can be defined as an ‘unplanned or unexpected event that may or may not result in injury or damage’ and accidents, or more to the point, their prevention, are what health and safety is all about.
Any accidents suffered at work should be investigated to determine the causes and ensure that they cannot happen again. The results of the investigation may prove useful when defending any action taken by enforcement authorities, or defending against compensation claims.
The Accident Investigation process would usually involve:
- Examination of the area where the accident took place (including taking measurements, photographs etc.)
- Examining documentation relevant to the accident
- Taking witness statements
- Preparing a full report identifying the root causes of the accident and any recommendations required.
Serious accidents also have to be reported to the Health & Safety Executive
Reactive accident, and indeed pro-active ‘near miss’ investigation are key to accident prevention, and it is prudent management practice to adopt an investigative culture as a means of reducing the risk of future reoccurrence.
