Procedures In Accident Investigation And Reporting Practiced Construction Essay

Procedures In incident Investigation And Reporting Practiced Construction turn step upChapter 1 foundation garmentBackground of the ProblemSection 15 (1) of the occupational safeguard and fountainheadness Act 1994 (Act 514) says It sh exclusively be the duty of either employer and every self-employed soul to ensure, so far as is practicable, the close outive, nearlyness and well-being at unravel of all his employees. It is a well known point that no matter how good and well established a commit refuge program is, slashs do happened from snip to time. on that point atomic number 18 rough(prenominal) factors that contri furthere to these hazards, non to mention the degree of severity and it is the trade of the recourse and Health ships officer to t distributively precisely what really happens when an solidus occur.It is fundamental to conduct misadventure probes with accident opposeion in mind. Investigations atomic number 18 not to trust blame. Too o ften investigatings degenerate into fingerprinting, blame fixing and fault- finding exercises be bring the persons conf apply do not understand the reasons for or real value which stack be accumulateed from good accident investigations. slash/incident investigations argon a tool for uncovering hazards that either were missed earlier or suck in managed to slip aside of the controls planned for them.It is excessively serious to restrain a standardized and proper(ip) structure of accident investigation and describe in order to get an accurate picture of what really transpired in an accident. Inaccuracies forget nigh likely point to the wrong crap of accidents and this get outing unknowingly ca lend oneself errors in deduction and as well as the wrong recommendations being be piddle for the mitigation move. In order to get a true internal representation and a clear picture of what causes an accident, there must be a standard in carrying out investigation, standard p erfoma to be used, a embed of general questions to be asked and equipments to help a Safety and Health Officer in carrying out his duties.By having a standard operating mathematical branch for accident investigation and reportage, and with the help from the discussion section of Safety and Health (DOSH), statistics could be derived and major contributors to accidents could be identified and properly examine mitigation steps could be formulated. This will undoubtedly benefit the industry as a whole.Problem StatementWhat is an accident? shot merchantman be define as an unplanned and uncontrolled termination that led to, or could have led to taint to persons, handicap to property/plant/equipment, and impairment to the milieu or whatsoever other loss to the comp some(prenominal).Problem that was observed at the Senai Pasir Gudang Desaru Expressway with regards to accident coverage is the confabulation breakdown that occurs where the force complex does not know whom to call in a case of an touch or fatality. Could this be because of insufficient study? Neglected induction courses? uneffective tool-box meeting? This paper will try to find the root cause of this communication breakdown and in doing so will hopefully change on the accident reporting and investigation procedures.The Research Frame urinateWe impoverishment to have a good understanding of the existing enquiry subjects, on which to build new and pertinent research activities for occupational Safety and Health approaches. We also film to understand the appropriate research approaches for producing new knowledge. To make these activities manageable, we use a research frame take on. A research framework defines the categories of outputs that research atomic number 50 produce. It also defines a set of different research activities. Moreover, it defines what human body of research activities can be used to produce item outputs.In tackling the questions brought herewith, a combina tion of indigenous entropy obtained from real research under taken at settle in the form of questionnaires and interviews involving personnel from specific department of a guild and secondary data from materials taken from magazines, newspapers, internet and so onwill be used. Data derived from both of these data acquisition activities will hopefully answers some of the questions to the problems faced by the Safety Officers and Supervisors at site.Objective of StudyThe objectives of the get a line undertaken are toTo standardized the accident or incident reporting and examine procedures practiced at siteTo address any shortcomings concluded from the reflect undertakenTo ascertain the accident report implement currently practiced at siteResearch QuestionsSpecial consideration has to be taken in asking questions about accidents reporting and investigation. In order to ascertain where the communication breakdown occurs in an event of an accident, the main question that inesc apably to be asked isDo you know whom to call in case of an emergency?Is the urgency Contact List prominently displayed at the site office or the work place?Have you been given proper induction pedagogy before starting work?Have you been given talks on what to do in an accident at your employment?These questions have to be asked to workers of many ethnicity and considerations have to be given to the sensitivity of different cultures and religions. moment of StudyIt is hoped that after conclusions have been made from the study undertaken, the accident reporting and investigation procedures could be further improve in line with the Occupational Safety and Health Management principles.Scope of StudyThis study encompasses the accident reporting and investigation procedures practiced at the Senai Pasir Gudang Desaru Expressway go out. Two fatalities have been recorded at the worksite thus far and improvement to the overall work prophylactic is of paramount importance to avoid any m ore fatalities.Accidents can yield positive answers if we learn from what went wrong and prevent a reoccurrence. To grasp this we need to investigate the great deal that led to the accident and report, record, analyses and correct its effects. translation of TermsBelow are the definitions of wrong used for the purpose of this study. preventive AND HEALTH OFFICER a person leveled by the affirmer at site to be answerable for maintaining safe and protection against accidents. This person shall have the authority to issue instructions and take proactive measures to prevent accidents.HOT WORK use of open flames, other heat sources and/or spark-producing devices where there is a potential for explosion or fire.INCIDENT an hateful event, which has the potential to cause a serious accident.LOSS PREVENTION a before-the-loss procedure designed to aim and correct potential causes of accidents before they result in actual injuries or financial loss.MATERIAL SAFETY selective inform ation SHEET a abridgment sheet supplied by the chemic manufacturers that identifies the hazards, proper handling procedures and emergency treatment for a particular chemical.REGULATION a rule, ordinance, law, legal regulation or device by which conduct or mental processs is controlled.SAFE WORK PERMIT a permit issued as a written record by which the employer or employee in charge of a unit, equipment, building or area authorizes a worker and/or clump to do a specific job at the worksite. It identifies the safe work practices required for the type of work to be performed in the specified job location.SERIOUS INCIDENT a life endangering event to people, property and environment, such as major collapse of structure or plant or any incident causing multiple injuries to workers.SUB-CONTRACTOR a business, firm, partnership, consultant or individual hired by the Contractor to perform a specific task or job or any business, firm, partnership, consultant or individual, other than e mployees of the Contractor, working on or around Contractors property.VISITOR any person temporarily on the worksite who is not regularly involved in the daily worksite activities. This intromits, but is not limited to, delivery personnel, invited guest, the general public, etc.WILL, SHALL OR MUST to be understood as a mandate condition.Chapter 2 Accident Investigation and ReportingIntroductionThe failure of people, equipment, supplies, or environs to behave or react as expected causes most of them. Accident investigations determine how and why these failures occur. By using the information gained d matchless an investigation, a correspondent, or perhaps more disastrous, accident may be prevented. It is important to conduct accident investigations with prevention in mind.Definition of Accident Investigation and ReportingThe term accident can be specify as an unplanned event that interrupts the completion of an activity, and that may (or may not) include injury or property da mage.An incident ordinarily refers to an unexpected event that did not cause injury or damage this time but had the potential. Near miss or dangerous occurrence is also terms for an event that could have caused harm but did not.Accidents occur when hazards escape signal detection during preventive measures, such as a job or process preventative analysis, when hazards are not obvious, or as the result of combinations of deal that were difficult to foresee. A thorough accident investigation may identify previously overlooked physical, environmental, administrative, or process hazards, the need for new or more extensive safety training, or unguaranteed work practices. The primary focus of any accident investigation should be the determination of the facts surrounding the incident and the lessons that can be learned to prevent future similar occurrences.Importance of Accident Investigation and ReportingThe prototypal priority whenever an accident occurs is to deal with the emerg ency and ensure that any injuries or illnesses receive make medical attention. The accident investigation should begin immediately thereafter. This ensures that details of what occurred will be fresh in peoples minds and that witnesses dont influence one another by talking about the accident. It also minimizes the likelihood that important evidence is not moved, lost, taken, destroyed, or thrown away before the scene has been thoroughly inspected. There are indeed significant gains from good quality accident investigations. approximately importantly, accident investigation are carried out to find out the cause of accidents and to prevent similar accidents in the future. Apart from this, accident investigation is also carried out to learn from what went wrong. Determination of the cause of the accident is also an important factor. Preventing recurrence of the accident, improving the work environment, compliance of regulatory requirements, finding out the cost of the accident, to fu lfil moral obligation, defining trends, provision of information in case of litigation, reduction of operating costs by control of accidental losses and to express concern by the management are some of the importance of carrying out an effective accident investigation and reporting.Conclusion all told accidents should be investigated. The perspicacity and complexity of the investigation will vary with the circumstances and seriousness of the accident. The Safety Officer or other individual responsible for operations involved in an accident should ensure that an investigation is conducted and that when appropriate, strict actions are taken. Incidents that involve no injury or property damage should still be investigated to determine the hazards that should be corrected. The same principles apply to a quick inquiry of a minor incident and to the more baronial investigation of a serious event.Note The term incident is used in some situations and jurisdictions to cover both an accid ent and incident. It is argued that the invent accident implies that the event was related to fate or chance. When the root cause is determined, it is usually found that many events were predictable and could have been prevented if the right actions were taken qualification the event not one of fate or chance (thus, the word incident is used). For simplicity, we will use the term accident to mean all of the above events.When accidents are investigated, the emphasis should be concentrated on finding the root cause of the accident rather than the investigation procedure itself so we can prevent it from happening again. The purpose is to find facts that can deal to actions, not to find fault. Always look for deeper causes. Do not apparently record the steps of the event.Chapter 3 MethodologyIntroductionThe important criteria in adopting a research methodology should depend on what information we need to collect in order to make an informed conclusion to questions that arises from problems that needs to be addressed. The more focused we are about what we privation to gain by our research, the more effective and efficient we can be in our research, the shorter the time it will take us and ultimately the less it will cost us (whether in your own time, the time of your employees and/or the time of a consultant).There are trade offs, too, in the breadth and depth of information we get. The more breadth we want, usually the less depth well get (unless we have a great deal of resources to carry out the research).Study LocationThe study location would be the project site of the Senai-Pasir Gudang-Desaru Expressway with emphasis on the personnel involved at the work site. These personnel would be the Safety and Health Officer and Supervisor, the work supervisors and foremen whom are responsible over several workers.QuestionnaireQuestionnaires are an inexpensive way to advance data from a potentially spacious number of respondents. Often they are the solo feasible way to r all(prenominal) a number of reviewers large enough to allow statistically analysis of the results. A well-designed questionnaire that is used in effect can gather information on both the overall procedure of the test system as well as information on specific components of the system. If the questionnaire includes demographic questions on the participants, they can be used to gibe performance and satisfaction with the test system among different groups of users.For the purpose of this study, I have prepared a simple questionnaire directed at expose personnel at the work site with questions encompassing unhomogeneous aspects of occupational safety and health such as written safety and health program, managers responsibility, supervisors responsibility, safety managers role, employees, safety committees, safety and health inspection, regulatory compliance, safety and health training, injury and illness prevention activities, accident investigation and reporting and at l ong last on emergency preparedness. A sample of this questionnaire is attached together with this project paper in appendix 1.Analysis of DataWhen analyzing data from questionnaires, of all time start from review of the research goals, i.e., the reason we undertook the research in the first place. This will help us unionise our data and focus our analysis. For example, if we want to improve a program by identifying its strengths and weaknesses, we can organize data into program strengths, weaknesses and suggestions to improve the program. If we want to fully understand how our program works, we could organize data in the chronological order in which customers or clients go through our program. If we are conducting a performance improvement study, we can reason data according to severally measure associated with each overall performance result, e.g., employee learning, productivity and results.Chapter 4 Research ResultsIntroductionA total of 10 questionnaires have been distributed to Safety Officers/Supervisors at the Senai Pasir Gudang Desaru Expressway project site and various other project sites in Melacca and Kuala Lumpur to gauge the accident investigation and reporting mechanism. Out of the 10 questionnaires given out, 8 responded. The sample of the questionnaire can be found in Appendix I.Respondence BackgroundAll of the respondence are suitable Safety Officers and Safety Supervisors appointed by their respective companies and are registered with the Department of Safety and Health Malaysia (DOSH) or at least have accompanied courses conducted by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Malaysia. They were elect as respondence base on their vast experience and knowledge on Construction Safety and Health issues. It is hoped that their valuable feedback could improve the accident reporting and investigation procedures practiced at their respective site.Research Outcome reply from the questionnaires is tabulated and the resul t is shown in the spreadsheet below.Noverbal descriptionRespondentYESNOYES %1Written Safetya. Management commitment880 nose candyb. Safety performance standard85362.5c. Employee involvement880 degree Celsiusd. Written safety rules/procedures880 coulombe. Safety inspection87187.5f. Loss prevention880 degree Celsiusg. Regulatory compliance880 one Ch. Safety and health training880 atomic number 6i. Accident reporting/investigation86275j. Safety and health promotion880 deoxycytidine monophosphatek. Return to work policy81712.5 modal(a) YES85.22Do Managersa. Conduct/attend safety meetings86275b. retrospect serious accidents/near misses880 cc. Ensure supervisors accountable84450d. Conduct safety inspection86275e. Recognize safety performance82625f. get a line safety training session82625g. Talk to employees about safety86275h. Follow safety rules and procedures87187.5i. Require supervisors to love one safety project/year8080j. incite supervisors to attend outside safety training86275k . Provide tolerable resource for accident prevention85362.5l. include safety in supervisors job description/performance84450m. Review the quality of accident investigation reports86275average YES59.63Do Safety Officers/Supervisorsa. Conduct safety meetings with their employees880 degree Celsiusb. coiffe safety inspections of their department880centuryc. construct appropriate action(s) to correct safety rules880 light speedd. Talk to their employees880 snowe. quickly complete and submit accident investigation reports880 atomic number 6f. Attend supervisory safety training programs880 one Cg. Conduct nightly planned safety observations880100h. Identify and complete at least one safety project annually83537.5i. Review and respond promptly to employee suggestions880100j. create immediate action(s) to correct unsafe conditions/acts880100 number YES93.754Do Safety Managera. Conduct dinner gown safety and health inspections84450b. Encourage employees to submit safety suggestions808 0c. Attend at least one departmental safety meeting each quarter880100d. introduce in investigation of serious injuries/near misses880100e. Coordinate regulatory compliance activities84450f. Conduct safety training for employees/supervisors82625g. Conduct induction training880100h. Attend 1-2 professional development courses annually880100i. Review accident statistics and workers compensation costs880100j. Serve as Chairperson or fragment of the Safety committee880100 medium YES72.55Do employeesa. Follow all established safety rules and procedures86275b. Report unsafe conditions/accidents to their supervisor87187.5c. Attend all required safety training programs880100d. Submit safety suggestions82625e. Maintain proper housekeeping at their work place86275Average YES72.56Safety Committeesa. Do your company have an active safety committee880100b. If yes, does the Safety Committeei. Perform safety inspections880100ii. visualize at least quarterly880100c. Review all serious accidents 880100i. Recommend safety program improvement880100ii. Monitor safety program effectiveness880100iii. Take timely action on safety suggestion86275iv. Maintain and relinquish minutes of each meeting880100Average YES96.97Injury/Illness Prevention Activitiesa. Does your company use engineering controls and/or administrative controls to prevent or control workplace injuries and illnesses880100b. Does your company use safety posters, health fairs etc to promote health and safety880100c. Has a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) been completed for each dangerous job880100d. Has your company developed an effective ergonomics program82625e. argon safety and health requirements and concerns considered when purchasing new machines, equipment and chemical products880100Average YES858Accident Reporting and Investigationa. Are all workplace injuries and illnesses inform and investigated880100b. Are near misses and vehicle-related accidents report and investigated880100c. Have all supervisors and manage rs been dexterous in accident investigation procedures880100d. Are Safety Officers/Supervisors required to complete a separate Accident Investigation Report880100e. Are incomplete reports returned to the appropriate Safety Officers/Supervisors880100f. Are accident prevention programs and activities based upon an analysis of accident reports and injury and illness rates86275Average YES95.89Emergency Preparednessa. Does your company have a current Emergency Response Plan880100b. Are emergency phone numbers and building maps/site maps affix880100c. Do all personnel know how to respond to an emergency such as fire86275d. Do your company conduct periodic disaster drills84450e. Are alarms tested at least once per month880100Average YES85%Main Elements StudiedThe main elements studied are the Accidents Investigation and Reporting procedures. The targeted questions with respect to this area are as below-Does your company have a current written safety and health program that addresses the side by side(p) elements?i. Accident reporting and investigation? (75% answered YES)Do managersm. Review the quality of accident investigation reports? (75% answered YES)3. Do safety officers/supervisorse. Promptly complete and submit accident investigation reports? (100% answered YES)4. Do safety managersd. Participate in the investigation of serious injuries and near misses? (100% answered YES)5. Do employeesb. Report unsafe conditions and accidents to their safety officers/supervisors? (87.5% answered YES)6. Safety committeesc. Review all serious accidents? (100% answered YES)8. Accident reporting and investigationAll questions in this section are relevant to the composition discussed. (Average YES 95.8%)9. Emergency PreparednessAll questions in this section are relevant to the topic discussed. (Average YES 85%)Generally almost all of the respondents reported positively on aspects of accident investigation and reporting in their respective companies. From having a clear writt en policies to having an emergency response plan in place are sure signs that accident investigation and reporting are taken seriously and thus, the standards of safety and health could only improve.Chapter 5 ConclusionIntroductionWith every company taking a serious stand on aspects of safety and health at the work site, so does accident investigation and reporting procedures. From the feedback gathered through questionnaires, the accident investigation and reporting mechanism are properly in placed and practiced.DiscussionAccidents are usually complex. An accident may have 10 or more events that can be causes. A detailed analysis of an accident will publicly reveal three cause levels basic, indirect, and direct. At the lowest level, an accident results only when a person or object receives an amount of energy or hazardous material that cannot be absorbed safely. This energy or hazardous material is the DIRECT CAUSE of the accident. The direct cause is usually the result of one or more unsafe acts or unsafe conditions, or both. Unsafe acts and conditions are the INDIRECT CAUSES or symptoms. In turn, indirect causes are usually traceable to poor management policies and decisions, or to personal or environmental factors. These are the BASIC CAUSES.In spite of their complexity, most accidents are preventable by eliminating one or more causes.Accident investigations determine not only what happened, but also how and why. The information gained from these investigations can prevent recurrence of similar or perhaps more disastrous accidents. Accident investigators are interested in each event as well as in the ecological succession of events that led to an accident. The accident type is also important to the investigator. The recurrence of accidents of a particular type or those with prevalent causes shows areas needing special accident prevention emphasis.The actual procedures used in a particular investigation depend on the nature and results of the accident. Th e agency having jurisdiction over the location determines the administrative procedures. In general, responsible officials will appoint an individual to be in charge of the investigation. The investigator uses most of the following steps1. Define the scope of the investigation.2. Select the investigators. Assign specific tasks to each (preferably in writing).3. Present a preliminary briefing to the investigating team, includinga. Description of the accident, with damage estimates.b. Normal operating procedures.c. Maps (local and general).d. Location of the accident site.e. List of witnesses.f. Events that preceded the accident.4. travel to the accident site to get updated information.5. Inspect the accident site.a. Secure the area. Do not disturb the scene unless a hazard exists.b. Prepare the obligatory sketches and photographs. Label each carefully and keep accurate records.6. Interview each victim and witness. Also interview those who were present before the accident and those who arrived at the site shortly after the accident. Keep accurate records of each interview. delectation a tape recorder if desired and if approved.7. Determinea. What was not normal before the accident?b. Where the abnormality occurred.c. When it was first noted.d. How it occurred.8. Analyze the data obtained in step 7. Repeat any of the prior steps, if necessary.9. Determinea. Why the accident occurred.b. A likely sequence of events and probable causes (direct, indirect, basic).c. Alternative sequences.10. Check each sequence against the data from step 7.11. Determine the most likely sequence of events and the most probable causes.12. Conduct a post-investigation briefing.13. Prepare a summary report, including the recommended actions to prevent a recurrence.Distribute the report according to applicable instructions.An investigation is not