Accident & Incident Investigation Policy

This policy outlines the procedures that are to be adopted when any employee or contractor experiences an accident, near-miss or dangerous occurrence on the company’s premises or customer’s premises.

It is the policy of the company to identify and investigate unplanned losses (accidents), their source and hence their underlying causes.

To enable this objective to be achieved it is imperative that all accidents, irrespective of the resulting injury or damage, be reported according to the laid down procedures.

To avoid misunderstanding, the company deem an accident and near-miss to be defined thus: –

Accident: “any unplanned event that results in personnel injury or damage to property, plant or equipment.

Near-miss: “an unplanned event which does not cause injury or damage but could have done so.” Examples include items falling near to personnel, incidents involving vehicles and electrical short-circuits.

Accident Books
All accidents must be recorded in the company’s accident books.

These accident books will be reviewed regularly by senior management to ascertain the nature of incidents which have occurred in the workplace. This review will be in addition to an individual investigation of the circumstances surrounding each incident.

All near misses must be reported to the Safety Manager, as soon as possible so that action can be taken to investigate the causes and to prevent recurrence.

Reporting Procedure: Employees
1. All accidents must be entered in the appropriate Accident Book either by the injured person or, if this is not practical, someone else present at the time.

2. An accident Report form (Part 1 only) is also to be completed by the same person who should then give the form to the Immediate Supervisor of the injured person.

3. The Immediate Superior must then:

Note that the accident has occurred.
Ensure that the Accident Book has been correctly and fully completed.

4. The Safety Manager will then: –

Ensure that, where applicable, the requirements of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 are met.
Complete Part II of the Company Accident Report form, recording the findings of the subsequent investigation.
Discuss the accident and the contributory factors with the Departmental head.
Report findings to the Director responsible for Health & Safety and, if necessary, instigate any disciplinary proceedings.
Ensure the Accounts Department have been informed that the accident occurred to enable their procedures to be implemented.

5. The Director responsible for Health & Safety will then: –

Ensure, so far as reasonably practical, that proper action is taken to help prevent the accident being repeated.

Reporting Procedure – Contractors

Any non-employee who experiences an accident or near-miss incident whilst on customers premises must report the incident immediately to the person responsible.

All injuries must be reported in the accident book, however minor. Contractors who are unable to enter their account into the book must arrange for another person to make an entry on their behalf.

The Company takes the responsibility for notifying reportable accidents under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995; therefore, the Company’s Safety Manager must be informed immediately.

Reporting Procedure – Damage / Theft

All accidents / incidents which result in the loss or damage of plant, equipment, or vehicles but not necessarily personal injury must be recorded on the and passed to the Safety Manager without delay.

Where this incident results in any injury to a third party the Safety Manager must be informed immediately as it may be necessary to report the incident by telephone to the Health and Safety Executive.

Safe System of Work

All incidents and near-miss incidents must be reported, however minor. To achieve this the following procedure should be adopted.

1. Ensure the appropriate report form is completed and forwarded to the Safety Manager.
2. Obtain treatment for any injury from a first-aider or the local hospital.
3. Ensure that the area is made safe and poses no risk to other personnel (except where the accident results in a major injury, in which case the scene should be fenced off and left undisturbed until advised otherwise by the enforcing authority).
4. Enter details in the accident book.
5. Inform the injured person’s manager (or a responsible person) of the incident.
6. Keep the company informed of any after-effects, including periods of incapacity for work.

SUMMARY

The four most important steps are: –

* Ensure that all relevant details are reported as soon as possible, in accordance with established procedures.
* Remove residual hazards that may pose a risk to others.
* Fence off the undisturbed scene of a serious incident pending investigation.
* Notify management of incapacity for work that results from an injury sustained during a work activity.