This accident investigation PowerPoint by CSCB breaks down the necessary steps to take when conducting an accident investigation in the construction industry.

1. This material was developed by Compacion Foundation Inc and The Hispanic Contractors Association de Tejas under Susan Harwood Grant
Number SH-20-843-SH0 Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or
policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsements by the U.S.
Government.
Certified Safety Construction
Business CB106
Presented By:
Construction Compliance
Training Center

2. Provide participants with the basic skills
necessary to conduct an effective accident
investigation in your workplace.
CB106 Accident Investigation
 You will identify;
 Primary Reasons, Benefits, and
 Employer Responsibilities to
conducting an accident
investigation
 Three Steps for an
Effective Investigation
 Investigate and Analysis

3. The most important things in an accident are:
 When an accident happens, the most important
thing is taking care of the victim or victims.
◦ After that, the most important thing is
finding the causes of the accident.
◦ All of us, including employers, need help
and advice to identify the causes of accidents.
CB106 Accident Investigation

4. Accidents also cause great economic losses
 Lost efficiency due to break-up of crew.
 Damage to tools and equipment.
 Damage from accident due to fire, water,
chemicals, spills, crashes, etc.
 Loss of customers because products and
services are not provided.
 Training costs for replacement worker.
CB106 Accident Investigation

5. What is an accident ?
An unwanted, unplanned event
that causes injuries, illnesses, or
property damage.
What is an incident ?
An unwanted, unplanned event
that almost causes injuries,
illnesses, or property damage.
CB106 Accident Investigation

6. 300 INCIDENTS
1
ACCIDENT
For each accident,
• 300 incidents occurred, or
• you lost 300 chances to
prevent the accident!
If we are going to
prevent accidents,
we have to investigate the
accidents and the incidents!
CB106 Accident Investigation

7.  Unsafe Conditions
◦ Poorly maintained machinery or equipment.
◦ Defective or missing personal protective equipment.
◦ Unguarded machinery or equipment.
◦ Missing or inadequate
warnings or safety and health
signs.
◦ Lack of housekeeping.
CB106 Accident Investigation

8.  Unsafe Acts
◦ Conduct work operations
without prior training
◦ Block or remove safety
devices.
◦ Clean, lubricate, or repair
equipment while its in
operation.
◦ Working without protection in
hazardous places.
CB106 Accident Investigation

9.  Investigate
 Analyze
 Report
CB106 Accident Investigation

10.  Seal the accident area.
 Interview witnesses.
 Draw and take
measurements of the
accident area.
 Take samples.
CB106 Accident Investigation

11.  Say what happened step-by-step.
 Analyze the events with the 6 key questions:
◦ Who?
◦ What?
◦ When?
◦ Where?
◦ Why?
◦ How?
.
Who saw the crash?
What happened to the
brakes?
When did the brakes fail?
Where were the
replacement brakes?
Why wasn’t the mechanic
told?
How did the crash happen?
CB106 Accident Investigation

12.  Say what happened.
 Say which were the surface
causes.
 Say which were the root
causes.
 Say what needs to be done
so the accident doesn’t
happen again.
CB106 Accident Investigation

13. 1 . Direct cause of injury
2. Surface causes of
accident
3. Root causes of the
accident
Accidents must be investigated and analyzed
from three different points of view:
CB106 Accident Investigation

14. A harmful transfer of energy
that produces injury or
illness.
 The worker suffered two
broken legs when the
truck crashed into the
wall.
◦
CB106 Accident Investigation

15. Specific unsafe conditions or unsafe behaviors
that result in an accident.
 The truck crashed into the wall because the
brakes failed.
◦
CB106 Accident Investigation

16. Common conditions and behaviors that
ultimately result in an accident.
 The company did not have a maintenance
program for its vehicles.
CB106 Accident Investigation

17. Weed out the causes of injuries and
illnesses
Fails to inspect
No recognition planInadequate training plan
No accountability policy No inspection policy
No discipline procedures
Outdated ProceduresNo orientation process
Unguarded
m
achine
Horseplay
Fails to train
To much work
Defective PPE
Fails to report injury
Inadequate training
Create a hazard
Fails to enforce
Untrained worker
Broken tools
Ignore a hazard
Lack of time
Inadequate labeling procedures
No recognition
Cuts
Burns
Strains
Chemical spill
Conditions Behaviors
Surface
Causes of the
Accident
Root Causes of the
Accident
Direct Causes of
Injury/Illness
- Accident Weed
CB106 Accident Investigation

18.  Secure the accident scene
 Collect facts about what happened
 Develop the sequence of events
 Determine the causes
 Recommend
improvements
 Write the report
CB106 Accident Investigation

19. Be ready when accidents happen
1. Write a clear policy statement.
2. Identify those authorized to notify
outside agencies (fire, police, etc.)
3. Designate those responsible to
investigate accidents.
4. Train all accident investigators.
5. Establish timetables for conducting
the investigation and taking
corrective action.
6. Identify those who will receive the
report and take corrective action.
CB106 Accident Investigation

20. CB106 Accident Investigation

21. CB106 Accident Investigation
 Photos shown in this presentation may depict situations that are not in compliance with applicable OSHA
requirements.
 It is not the intent of the content developers to provide compliance-based training in this presentation, the intent
is more to address hazard awareness in the construction industry, and to recognize the overlapping hazards
present in many construction workplaces.
 It should NOT be assumed that the suggestions, comments, or recommendations contained herein constitute a
thorough review of the applicable standards, nor should discussion of “issues” or “concerns” be construed as a
prioritization of hazards or possible controls. Where opinions (“best practices”) have been expressed, it is
important to remember that safety issues in general and construction jobsites specifically will require a great
deal of site - or hazard-specificity - a “one size fits all” approach is not recommended, nor will it likely be very
effective.
 It is assumed that individuals using this presentation, or content, to augment their training programs will be
“qualified” to do so, and that said presenters will be otherwise prepared to answer questions, solve problems,
and discuss issues with their audiences.
 No representation is made as to the thoroughness of the presentation, nor to the exact methods of
recommendation to be taken. It is understood that site conditions vary constantly, and that the developers of this
content cannot be held responsible for safety problems they did not address or could not anticipate, nor those
which have been discussed herein or during physical presentation. It is the responsibility of each employer
contractor and their employees to comply with all pertinent rules and regulations in the jurisdiction in which they
work. Copies of all OSHA regulations are available form your local OSHA office. This presentation is intended to
discuss Federal Regulations only – your individual State requirements may be more stringent.
 As a presenter, you should be prepared to discuss all of the potential issues/concerns, or problems inherent in
those photos particularly.