Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
should.assemble.the.available.testimony.into.a.logical.order..Analyze.this.informa-
tion.along.with.data.from.the.accident.site.
Not.all.people.react.in.the.same.manner.to.a.particular.stimulus..For.example,.a.
witness.within.close.proximity.to.the.accident.may.have.an.entirely.different.story.
from.one.who.saw.it.at.a.distance..Some.witnesses.may.also.change.their.stories.
after. they. have. discussed. it. with. others.. The. reason. for. the. change. may. be. addi-
tional.clues.
A.witness.who.has.had.a.traumatic.experience.may.not.be.able.to.recall.the.details.
of.the.accident..A.witness.who.has.a.vested.interest.in.the.results.of.the.investigation.
may.offer.biased.testimony..Finally,.eyesight,.hearing,.reaction.time,.and.the.general.
condition.of.each.witness.may.affect.his.or.her.powers.of.observation..A.witness.may.
omit.entire.sequences.because.of.a.failure.to.observe.them.or.because.their.impor-
tance.was.not.realized.
In.general,.experienced.personnel.should.conduct.interviews..If.possible,.the.team.
assigned.to.this.task.should.include.an.individual.with.a.legal.background..In.con-
ducting.interviews,.the.team.should
. 1.. Appoint.a.speaker.for.the.group.
. 2.. Get.preliminary.statements.as.soon.as.possible.from.all.witnesses.
. 3.. Locate.the.position.of.each.witness.on.a.master.chart.(including.the.direc-
tion.of.view).
. 4.. Arrange.for.a.convenient.time.and.place.to.talk.to.each.witness.
. 5.. Explain.the.purpose.of.the.investigation.(accident.prevention).and.put.each.
witness.at.ease.
. 6.. Listen;.let.each.witness.speak.freely,.and.be.courteous.and.considerate.
. 7.. Take.notes.without.distracting.the.witness..Use.a.tape.recorder.only.with.
the.consent.of.the.witness.
. 8.. Use.sketches.and.diagrams.to.help.the.witness.
. 9.. Emphasize.areas.of.direct.observation..Label.hearsay.accordingly.
. 10.. Be.sincere.and.do.not.argue.with.the.witness.
. 11.. Record.the.exact.words.used.by.the.witness.to.describe.each.observation..
Do.not.put.words.into.a.witness'.mouth.
. 12.. Word.each.question.carefully.and.be.sure.the.witness.understands.
.
13.. Identify. the. qualiications. of. each. witness. (name,. address,. occupation,.
years.of.experience,.etc.).
.
14.. Supply. each. witness. with. a. copy. of. his. or. her. statement(s).. Signed. state-
ments.are.desirable.
hAndlIng the evIdence
The. gathering. of. evidence. is. a. fact-inding. process. that. provides. the. data. to. be.
analyzed,.and.prevention.decisions.can.be.based.upon.the.indings..The.investiga-
tor's.evidence.usually.comes.from.four.sources:.people,.locations,.equipment/parts/
accessories,. and. paper. documentation.. The. evidence. sought. should. identify. what.
was. normal,. what. occurred. abnormally,. what. time. it. occurred,. how. it. happened,.
and.what.the.results.of.the.incident.were.
