The Basics
A fitting metaphor for accident investigation is likening it to navigating a simple maze. Consider a scenario where a group is asked to solve a maze as fast as they can. When you ask the quickest person about their method, you'll usually find they began at the end and traced their path back to the start. This reflects the common approach in accident investigations, where the process often involves working backwards from the conclusion to the origin.
Navigating mazes is often challenging when starting from the beginning and moving towards the end, but becomes much simpler when approached in reverse. Similarly, in accident investigations, the process involves looking backward. What may seem uncertain or complex for those moving forward through a maze becomes evident to investigators who analyze the situation by tracing steps backwards from the point of the accident. (Source: DOE)
What is an Accident?
An accident is the final event in a series of unplanned, unique events leading to an employee's injury or illness, and it might also involve property damage. It's the end result of various surface and deeper root causes.
- An 'event' happens when an 'actor' (a person or object) performs an 'action' (does something).
- A person or object (like equipment, tools, materials, etc.) does something that leads to a change.
- An accident can result from many factors — simultaneous, interconnected, or cross-linked events that interact dynamically.
What is an Incident?
In the context of occupational safety and health, a workplace incident refers to any event that disrupts or could disrupt workplace activities. It doesn't necessarily result in injury or damage. Incidents include near misses (situations where an injury or property damage could have occurred, but didn't), equipment malfunctions, or any other irregularity. The key aspect of an incident is that it has the potential for causing harm, even if no actual harm occurred.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-1. An accident is _____.
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