Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
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3..To. obtain. accurate. facts,. the. investigator. must. get. to. the. scene. as.
promptly.as.possible.
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4.. The. theory. of. multiple. causation. must. be. considered. when. investigating.
accidents.
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5.. The.real.purpose.is.to.gather.facts.that.led.to.the.accident,.and.not.to.focus.
emphasis.on.placing.blame.
The.investigator.will.need.to.maintain.a.notebook.that.will.include.observation,.
data,. and. information. pertaining. to. the. investigation. as. it. proceeds. through. its.
many.steps.and.phases..The.investigator's.notebook.should,.at.a.minimum,.contain.
the.following:
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1.. At.the.accident.scene,.it.is.the.investigator's.job.to.gather.all.information:
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a..
Field.notes.are.the.continuous.written.record.of.the.investigation.
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b..
Notes.aid.in.the.investigation,.interviews,.follow-up.investigations,.and.
if.called.to.testify.in.court.
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c..
Notes.are.the.basic.source.of.information.for.the.written.report.
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2.. The.notebook.itself:
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a..
The. inside. cover. should. have. information. as. to. the. owner:. name,.
address.(ofice,.not.home),.and.telephone.number.
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b..
It.should.be.carried.at.all.times.
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c..
It.should.be.large.enough.to.allow.the.recording.of.substantial.informa-
tion.on.each.page,.as.well.as.diagrams..Approximately.4.×.6.inches.is.
considered.best.
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3.. Basic.essentials.to.include.in.ield.notes:
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a..
Who?
− Who.was.involved?
− Who.discovered.the.incident?
− Who.saw,.or.heard,.something.of.importance?
− Who.was.interviewed?
−
Who.marked.the.evidence?
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b..
What?
− What.happened?
− What.do.witnesses.know?
− What.evidence.was.obtained?
− What.action.was.taken?
− What.other.agencies.were.notiied?
− What.time.did.the.incident.occur?
− What.time.did.you.arrive?
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c..
Where?
− Where.did.the.incident.occur?
− Where.were.the.victims?
− Where.were.the.witnesses?
−
Where.was.evidence.marked?
−
Where.was.the.individual.suspected.of.causing.the.incident?
