Investigating Accidents and Incidents in the Workplace: Awareness and Prevention
Accidents and injuries in the workplace impact us all, emphasizing the importance of thorough investigations to prevent future occurrences. This workshop aims to discuss best practices, safety regulations, and collective union attitudes towards accident investigations. It addresses the implications of negligent employers, shifting blame, and focusing on human errors in accident management. By understanding skill-based errors and implementing preventative measures, organizations can enhance workplace safety and well-being for all stakeholders.
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Presentation Transcript
Julie Weekes, Trade Union Education & Alan McShane, Health & Safety Activist SRSC Safety Reps Investigating Incidents and Injuries In The Workplace HAZARDS WORKSHOP 2021
Aims of workshop 1. Discuss best practice when investigating accidents and incidents 2. Remind ourselves what the (SRSC) Safety Reps and Safety Committee Regulations say about a safety reps right to investigate 3. To develop a collective Trade Union attitude to accident investigations
Investigating accidents and incidents in the workplace Accidents and injuries effect us all The person who suffered the injury, workmates, family, friends and wider society are all effected in some way or other We are all pay for negligent and criminal bosses who break health & safety law in one way or another The cost to society esimated at 16.2 billion as of 2018/19 https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/cost.htm Bad bosses who put workers at risk put extra burdens on our NHS staff who are already under immense pressure
Investigating accidents and incidents in the workplace Many employers engage in the blame game when a worker has an accident. It was your own fault you had the accident using the careless worker scenario & shifting the emphasis onto the injured person. LETS BE CLEAR it is unsafe work practices and negligent employers that cause the majority of accidents and injuries in work Some employers use behavioural safety as a way to shift blame which looks at the worker and not the hazards present in the workplace
Management focus on human errors when accident occurs When employee error is legitimately identified as a contributory factor consider: Skill-based errors: a slip or lapse of memory Slips happen when a person is carrying out familiar tasks automatically, without thinking, and that person s action is not as planned, eg operating the wrong switch on a control panel; Lapses happen when an action is performed out of sequence or a step in a sequence is missed, as an example a road tanker driver had completed filling his tanker and was about to disconnect the hose when she/he was called away to answer the phone. On return forgot that he hadn t disconnected the hose and drove off. What should be done to prevent? These types of error can be foreseen and measures can be taken to prevent or reduce their likelihood, eg colour coding, a checklist, an interlocking device etc.
Management focus on human errors when accident occurs Mistakes: errors of judgement (rule-based or knowledge-based) Rule-based mistakes happen when a person has a set of rules about what to do in certain situations and applies the wrong rule Knowledge-based mistakes happen when a person is faced with an unfamiliar situation for which he or she has no rules, uses his or her knowledge and works from first principles, but comes to a wrong conclusion. For example when the warning light comes on indicating that the cooling system pump is overheating, is there a rule for what to do? If not, do you leave the pump on, turn it off, or shut down the whole unit? What needs to happen to prevent? Training, comprehensive safe working procedures and equipment design are most important in preventing mistakes.
Management focus on human errors when accident occurs Violation (rule breaking) Deliberate failure to follow the rules, cutting corners to save time or effort. What should be done to prevent it from happening? This type of behaviour can be foreseen. The provision of training, simple practical rules, and routine supervision and monitoring of performance will reduce this type of behaviour. SRSC Safety Reps can consider; Job factors Human factors Organisational factors Plant and equipment factors
Your rights to investigate accidents under the SRSC Regs What the Brown book says; Reg 4 (1) (a) to investigate potential hazards and dangerous occurrences at the workplace (whether or not they are drawn to his attention by the employees he represents) and to examine the causes of accidents at the workplace. Reg 4 (1)(F) & (G) representing members with H&S inspectors and receiving information from inspectors Reg 6 (1)Where there has been an over-three-day injury, a notifiable accident or dangerous occurrence in a workplace or a notifiable disease has been contracted those safety representatives may carry out an inspection of the part of the workplace concerned and so far as is necessary for the purpose of determining the cause they may inspect any other part of the workplace
Your rights to investigate accidents under the SRSC Regs Reg 6 (2)The employer shall provide such facilities and assistance as the safety representatives may reasonably require (including facilities for independent investigation by them and private discussion with the employees) for the purpose of carrying out an inspection under this Regulation
Investigating Injuries - what can safety reps do? 1. Get to the scene of the accident as soon as possible. Even better if you have an agreement with management to inform you of the accident. 2. Ensure the injured person is receiving the correct medical treatment 3. Make sure nothing has been moved at the scene of the accident. 4. Get witness statements straight away while it s fresh in people s minds. Memories start to fade after a certain time 5. Can you get photographs, sketches or other representations of the accident
Investigating Injuries - what can safety reps do? 6. Interview your union member as soon as possible and if you get to them before management tell them not to sign anything put before them by management. 7. Seek advice on injury compensation from your trade union.
