7. ACCIDENT / INCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS

7. ACCIDENT / INCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS

The purpose of incident/accident reporting and investigations is to prevent a recurrence of the hazardous condition causing the event.

UNIT REQUIREMENTS

The WCB requires Units to investigate any accident which:

  • Resulted in injury requiring treatment by a medical practitioner
  • Resulted in death or critical condition with a serious risk of death
  • Involved a major structural failure or collapse
  • Involved the major release of a toxic or hazardous substance
  • Was a blasting or diving accident
  • Did not result in an injury but had the potential for causing serious injury (near miss).

Units are also required to report to the Health, Health and Safety and Environment (HSE) every:

  • Work-related injury. The report must be made within 24 hours of the occurrence.
  • Disabling occupational disease or allegations of an occupational disease. The report must be made within 24 hours of receiving the worker’s report of the disease.
  • Work-related death. The report must be made immediately.

The HSE Department is responsible for reporting this information to the WCB.

To meet these requirements, the UBC has developed and implemented a program for the reporting and investigation of accidents. The Program’s focus is on finding solutions and not on placing blame.

The success of the program depends on:

  • Accidents being reported by workers (see accident/incident report forms)
  • Investigations being conducted in accordance with established investigation procedures corrective action taken to prevent recurrence.

Management will provide all tools and resources necessary for the Program to be effective. These include:

  • Accident investigation training for investigators
  • Time made available to allow investigators to complete their duties
  • Quick action on recommended changes to job procedures or physical conditions to prevent recurrence of similar situations.

INVESTIGATION TEAMS

  • Must consist of an area supervisor and an employee representative
  • Each investigator is required to be trained on investigation procedures as well as be knowledgeable of the work performed at the time of the accident.
  • For information on Accident Investigation training, call Health, Health and Safety & Environment at (604) 822-2029.

7.0 ACCIDENT / INCIDENT REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION FORMS:

  1. Must be promptly and fully completed for all applicable incidents or accidents
  2. May be obtained by calling Health, Safety and Environment at (604) 822-2029

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND REFERENCES

  • “Accident Investigation Procedures”
  • “Due Diligence”
  • “Records, Documentation and Statistics”
  • WCB Regulation, parts 3.4 (e), 3.6(2)(a), 3.7 to 3.14
  • UBC Policy #7 Health and Safety

Source URL: https://phas.ubc.ca/7-accident-incident-investigations