Accident investigation in industries - Essay Example

Accident Investigation Industries Accidents are an everyday occurrence in American industries. Statistics reveal that at least thirteen people go to work every day and never come home. In different States, more than four million citizens suffer workplace related injuries. A study carried out by United States Department of labour in the year 2010 reveals more than 4,690 deaths related to work injuries. From this figure, 18% or more were in construction. There is a slight increase from the death cases reported in the year 2009.

However, since the inception of OSHA in 1970, workplace accidents have reduced by 67%. Occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) department receives a huge budget allocation every year from the government. In a given year, OSHA budget ranges between five hundred to six hundred million dollars. An accident is an unforeseen occurrence that that compromises the progress of present activity causing injury to persons or destruction of property. An accident can occur without injury but the fact that it had the potential to harm means that damage or injury not caused was a mere chance.

It is possible to avoid accidents if proper workplace procedures are followed. All accidents have a cause to it. In many cases, accidents happen because of human error who perpetrates an unsafe behaviour or condition. In an organisation, some departments are prone to accidents than others due to different machines or chemicals in use by such departments. Despite strict measures and procedures to curb accidents, such organisations still report a considerable number of accidents. On investigating accidents, supervisors try to find blame other than the cause of the accident.

This has not helped in curbing of accidents. The first importance of investigating an accident is to find the root cause and avoid a future occurrence of a similar incident. Persons tasked to investigate the accident must understand that the exercise is not to find fault or put a finger on someone. Additionally, meaningful involvement of employees is essential because it will make them provide valuable information to the investigation. Secondly, some accidents lead to injuries making the company to spend money in the treatment of injured workers.

An investigation will reveal the cost of the accident through medical bills and other damaged properties. Thirdly, by investigating an accident, a company fulfils legal requirements and safety regulations. The company will understand the extent of its compliance with the laid regulations and procedures. Fourthly, it is only after an investigation that a company can process the involved workers compensation after determining their claims.The question of who should be involved in accident investigation often arises.

It is important to choose persons with some investigative techniques, and knowledgeable in the company’s work processes and procedures. Usually, an immediate supervisor to the department needs to be there because he understands the department and the employees involved in the accident. The team investigating an incident should include an officer from the government, health and safety officials, union representatives, and an expert from outside the company. According to Division of Occupational Safety and Health Policy and Procedures manual, one of their duties is to conduct a thorough investigation that results in fatal injury to an employee, illness, exposure, inpatient hospitalisation of three or more employees (California Labour Code Web).

Works Cited“California Labour Code,” 2012, Web, 26 July 2012,