Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
even.if.permanent.correction.requires.time.to.develop.new.methods,.buy.new.equip-
ment,.or.modify.the.building.
orgAnIzIng And AssIgnIng resPonsIBIlItIes
Organizing.a.division.of.responsibility.toward.accident.investigations.should.include.
a. broad. range. of. experience,. responsibility,. and. authority.. Although. more. serious.
accidents.or.equipment.damage.should.be.investigated.primarily.by.a.person.with.
more. authority,. upper-level. management. personnel,. department. supervisors,. and.
irst-line.supervisors.should.still.play.an.active.role.in.accident.investigations.
Speciic.accident.investigation.responsibilities.should.be.assigned.to.various.people..
Accidents. involving. serious. injury. or. major. equipment. damage. should. be. investi-
gated.by.a.committee..The.committee.should.involve.all.levels.of.management.as.
well.as.a.range.of.technical.competencies..Most.accidents.that.are.potentially.seri-
ous. or. have. the. potential. for. major. equipment. damage. should. be. investigated. by.
the.department's.supervisor.in.conjunction.with.their.immediate.managers..Minor.
injuries.and.minor.equipment.damage.accidents.should.normally.be.investigated.by.
the.responsible.irst-line.supervisor.
suPervIsors And AccIdent InvestIgAtIon
Line. supervisors. should. be. involved. in. accident. investigations,. basically. because.
they.are.normally.the.people.in.direct.contact.with.the.worker.and.understand.their.
problems,. personalities,. and. capabilities.. Involving. supervisors. increases. their.
responsibilities. toward. the. accident. prevention. effort. (see. Figure 3.1).. Supervisors.
are. normally. responsible. for. training,. so. becoming. involved. in. investigations. will.
make.the.supervisor.more.aware.of.what.causes.accidents.as.well.as.ways.to.prevent.
a.recurrence.
Let's.take.a.look.at.the.reasons.why.the.line.supervisor.should.conduct.the.investi-
gation..An.accident.happens.because.there.is.a.problem.somewhere,.and.the.problem.
exists.because
.
1.. A.deiciency.is.not.known.
.
2.. The.risk.involved.in.the.deiciency.is.thought.to.be.less.than.it.really.is.
.
3.. Despite.the.deiciency,.someone.without.authority.decided.to.go.ahead.
.
4.. Someone.with.authority.decides.that.the.cost.is.more.than.the.money.that.is.
available,.or.that.the.cost.outweighs.the.beneit.of.correcting.the.deiciency.
When. taking. enough. time,. anyone. can. ind. out. what. the. exact. problem. is.. For.
every.problem.there.is.an.answer—a.single.best.way.to.correct.the.problem—and.for.
several.reasons.the.supervisor.is.the.best.person.to.put.this.all.together.
.
1.. The.supervisor.has.a.personal.interest.in.protecting.his.or.her.workforce.
.
2.. The.supervisor.knows.the.most.about.the.workers.and.conditions.
.
3.. The.supervisor.knows.best.how.to.get.information.
.
4.. The.supervisor.will.take.the.action.anyway.
