With this article we open a new category – Safety Meetings with Workers. In this category, we will review topics for supervisor – worker safety meetings.

Accident Investigations – Worker Responsibilities

Don’t wait until an accident happens
Often we become aware of hazardous conditions only after someone is hurt or seriously injured. If you see an unsafe act or condition, don’t ignore it. You could be gambling on you or someone else getting hurt. Be sure to tell people if you see them working in an unsafe manner. Wouldn’t you expect others to have the same consideration for you? If you see an unsafe condition, correct it. If you can’t correct it, talk to your supervisor right away.

Accident investigation
Accidents are unfortunate events that we strive to prevent. However, some good can come out of every accident if a thorough accident investigation is conducted. Investigations can produce information that can be used to prevent a similar mishap from occurring in the future. Some workers refuse to cooperate with investigations because they mistakenly believe that its purpose is to put blame on someone. However, without full cooperation from everyone, inaccurate conclusions may be reached as to the cause of the incident and proper measures may not be taken to prevent a reoccurrence.

If you see an accident
Contact emergency personnel immediately and assist at the accident scene as needed. After the scene is secured or you have been relieved of your responsibilities, make a mental note of everything that occurred and the conditions that existed before the accident. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Where was I (and others) when the accident happened?
2. What was I doing?
3. What equipment was involved?
4. Where was the injured person and what work was being done?
5. What was the sequence of events? Retain these things in your memory or write them down. Remember that others were in a different position and may not have seen things as you did. Everyone’s input is needed.

Cooperate in the investigation
When the investigator asks questions about the accident, give the facts as you recall them. If you omit or change information to protect someone, the causes of the accident cannot be accurately determined to help prevent the same thing from happening again. Next time you may be the victim.