Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The.cost.of.delays,.injuries,.property.damage,.and.insurance.all.add.to.the.cost.of.the.
production..Control.of.costs.is.one.way.of.judging.a.supervisor's.job.performance.
Persistent.efforts.to.solve.problems.relect.the.image.of.a.capable.supervisor.who.
is.in.control.of.things..Actions.speak.louder.than.words..People.like.to.work.for.a.
supervisor.who.takes.control.of.any.situation,.and.who.shows.he.or.she.is.capable.of.
dealing.with.any.problem.
PrePlAnnIng An AccIdent InvestIgAtIon
Before.an.accident.occurs,.you.should.contact.emergency.services—medical,.paramed-
ical,.ire.department,.police,.utilities,.bomb.disposal,.and.poison.control—to.determine.
their.procedures.for.response..Operation.and.locations.of.emergency.shutdown.switches.
of.equipment.must.be.identiied.unless.it.must.be.operating.to.prevent.further.damage.
or.loss..Be.prepared.to.isolate.sources.of.secondary.accidents.and.injuries..As.well,.pro-
vide.for.interruption.of.business.for.suficient.periods.to.permit.thorough.investigation.
Upon.discovery.of.an.accident,.management.personnel.should.be.notiied.com-
mensurate.with.the.classiication.of.the.accident.and.pertinent.regulatory.agencies.
as.required.by.public.laws..Institute.security.and.implement.investigative.procedures.
using.appropriate.tools.and.equipment.
Upon.arrival.at.the.accident.scene.or.site,.the.irst.priority.should.be.to.rescue.the.
injured.or.endangered.in.such.a.manner.that.injury.is.not.inlicted.or.compounded..
Then. reduce. risk. of. further. injury. or. damage. to. control. loss.. Identify. elements.
involved.in.the.accident.to.initiate.reporting.and.investigation.of.the.accident.
After.the.emergency.is.under.control,.plan.interfaces.with.other.investigators.pre-
scribed.by.public.laws;.ensure.that.the.scene.is.systematically.preserved.and.evidence.
is.not.destroyed..Be.prepared.to.provide.special.brieings.for.investigators,.specialized.
assistants,.and.the.press.
Part.of.the.preparation.is.having.an.accident.investigation.kit.already.available.so.
that.the.investigator.does.not.waste.valuable.time.in.procuring.the.items.and.tools.
needed. to. conduct. an. effective. accident. investigation.. Table 3.2. contains. a. list. of.
many.of.the.items.and.tools.that.would.be.appropriate.for.an.accident.investigation.
kit..Of.course,.this.list.is.not.all-inclusive.
When.urgent.data.collection.is.completed,.have.sources.of.technical.expertise.identi-
ied.for.examination.and.testing.of.evidence..Make.sure.that.the.company.has.commu-
nicated.and.interfaced.with.suppliers.of.equipment.and.materials.on.product.liability.
When.work.at.the.accident.site.is.inished,.have.a.plan.for.temporary.storage.of.
evidence.that.might.be.required.later.for.additional.examination..Determine.when.
and.where.inal.disposal.of.evidence,.damaged.equipment,.and.materials.should.be..
Make.plans.for.the.follow-on.phases.of.the.investigation..Conduct.a.planned.inspec-
tion.of.the.workplace.or.equipment.before.allowing.full,.normal.activity.to.resume.
InvestIgAtIon Process
Accidents. should. be. investigated. as. soon. as. possible. after. they. happen.. The. more.
time. that. passes. before. questioning. personnel. and. witnesses. involved,. the. greater.
the. risk. of. not. getting. an. accurate. story. of. what. happened. and. why.. The. injured.
