What is an Incident Investigation - Assignment Example

Incident investigation Name Instructor’s name Institution of study Subject Date Part 1 Describe the purpose of incident investigation The term incident describes an event that is usually unpredicted and whose occurrence causes injuries as well as inhibiting normal operation within an institution. In any case an incident could be defined as an accident however the later is sometimes assumed to occur as a result of fate while an incident result from unplanned events[Hea]. The purpose of incident investigation is to provide a guide to managers and safety committee fraternity to establish the causes of the incident so that plans are put in place to avoid a similar incident in future. Secondly, incident investigation is a requirement by law therefore it has been executed to avoid contradicting the legal systems. Thirdly, when incident occurs there may be injuries inflicted onto employees and it is the responsibility of the employer to meet certain costs associated with the incident. Fourthly, incidents are investigated to find out whether the company fully observed safety precautions that would have avoided such an incident. Finally investigations are carried out to evaluate the total cost of the damage caused by the accident[Int11]. What source of information could be used when investigating an incident? Investigating an incident involves gathering information about the incident and connecting facts to establish a reliable theory explaining the occurrence of an incident. In addition it is important to be open-minded during the process and avoid premature judgments or having preconceived notions that might impair your judgments. The most reliable sources of this information include physical evidence from accident sites and this may include left over from explosives, chemicals, safety devices, equipment lying on the floor, and other material that could help reconstruct vital events. Another source of information is eyewitness accounts may injured workers and this should carried out individually to prevent personal perceptions preferably at the place where the incident happened to help them remember where different items were located[Ame07]. Furthermore, documents containing background information could be very useful these include inspections reports, past incident accounts procedural data sheets among others[Joh06]. What is the significance of root causes and how does it differ from direct causes According to[Ame07], and [Int11], it is important for an incident investigator to strife to uncover the root cause to an accident instead of attempting to find incriminating evidence and using it to blame the employee or any other key player. In addition investigating the underlying factor in all of the events that ended up in the incident is important because most incidents are not caused by a single event but a chain of events. Root causes help to answer vital questions during investigation for instance they address issues such examining the cause of distraction, establishing whether key players had the necessary training to prevent the incident, they also attempt to examine whether safety devices were in good shape as well as the necessary procedures and if there was failure in any component above then explanations should be provided. Direct causes on the other hand refer to the event that caused the actual incident for instance in an explosion involving fire as a result of an explosion forms a combination of hazardous conditions that cause and accident. Other examples of direct causes include corrosion, having inadequate guards or even loud noise impairing judgment. Thus the difference between the two is clear because root causes refer to the underlying factors which facilitate direct causes thus without root cause there could be no incident[Ame07]. Explain the importance of security, both at the scene and information gathering an investigation According to [Int11]in [Int11] security in very important both at the scene and when gathering information. He argues that security ensures that evidence is preserved and this would help through investigation and create an enabling environment to prevent future incidents. In addition security at the scene and during investigation is vital because the safety of the survivors and that of investigator is equally important. Security ensures that more damage does not occur for instance if an incident involved explosion caused by chemical then there could be more underlying dangers around the workplace. Therefore, thorough investigation should be carried out to ensure that threats are neutralized before and during investigation[Int11]. What role can work safe play when and after they have been notified of an incident? According to [Bre07] in [Bre07]work safe plays an important role when and after they have been notified of an incident for instance they examine the incident to find out whether there was total compliance with OHS as well as the exact cause before making recommendations that would help alleviate similar incidents in future. Secondly work safe help to put into effect legal legislations that act as guidelines for future prevention of incidence. After incidents work safe helps in sensitizing people through open-day training to employees on safety precautions that are necessary at the workplace. Through its officers employees are enlightened on their duties as well as informing them what is expected of their master for safe working environment. Therefore their role in incident management is to investigation incidents and shed more light on the same and provides the latest information helpful in preventing incidents [Bre07] and[Int11]. Part 2 How can consultation in the workplace be achieved and what mechanisms support the process? According to [CCH10], the law demands that there should be continuous consultation between employees themselves as well as their employers. Consultation helps to improve production by increasing collaboration and minimizing conflicts at the workplace. Consultation could be achieved by informing employers that it is their obligation to consult with their employers to facilitate production. Establishing a consultative forum to see to it that there is constant consultation at the workplace this could be through trade union or representatives from both sides. Holding effective communication demands there a higher degree of transparency among key players at the work place[Don06]. Integrity and respect are equally important in promoting consultation however consultations demand prior plans and research into the area of interest as well as creating time for feedback and this is facilitated with the involvement of all stakeholders. When should consultation occur and with whom do you consult According to [CCH10] in [CCH10] consultations should be a continuous process because it is very important when it comes to ensuring that production is increased and safety observed. The author argues that employers should not wait until there is an incident or conflicts in order to initiate consultation however even the law demands for regular consultation. Consultation should involve people with relevant data concerning the area of interest and those who can facilitate influence safety within a firm as well as the people that are directly affected by the results in question. Therefore consultation affects a lot of stakeholders within an institution including representatives from each side such as trade unions in case there is an industrial conflict. According to [Joh06] in [Joh06], the management team plays an important role during consultation process. He argues that all stakeholders should be consulted appropriately and workers representatives such as trade unions should be part of the team. What barriers may impede workplace consultation and how can these barriers be overcome According to [Don06], barriers to effective consultations at the workplace include poor communication strategies which increase the gap between employees and employers[Joh06]. Failure to maintain confidentiality within institutions for instance disclosing workers information without taking into account what their feelings would be if they found out. In addition if the methods used in consultation are poor the there will be consultation failure. Other limitations include allocation of very little time for consulting, failure to understand each other as well as stereotyping[Don06]. To overcome these barriers it will be necessary to improve communication strategies by consulting experts. Furthermore, managers should be trained on the importance of maintaining confidentiality at the workplace in order to prevent unnecessary conflicts[Joh06]. Moreover, better methods of consultations should be developed to facilitate the process and finally more time should be created as well as avoiding stereotyping. How do you ensure that workers in the organization can access OHS information and data? According to [Wal06] in [Wal06] OHS information and data is very important in an environment where employers and employees are involved. It is necessary in providing helpful information that would help in deterring incidents and possible accidents and this will enhance their safety because it communicates key necessities from the manufacturer on precautions to be observed therefore employers should facilitate the same by availing the data sheets to the relevant employee and this is achieved through proper documentation[Wal06]. The information could also be communicated through the training seminars where workers are given orientation to new equipment before it begins to operate[Wal06]. Legal systems also demand that information on safety be availed to stakeholders on time this helps to ensure that employers take the initiative and fulfill their obligation. The author argues that effective communication and feedback channels are important in ensuring that transmission of OHS information and data. Develop a chart that shows an issue resolution process for OHS for use in your workplace. Include an explanation of each step in the process and ensure that it is line with the legislative requirements The chart below shows the process to be followed during conflict resolution. A single arrow points to the next step to be adopted after approval from the previous one. Double arrows indicate the step to be adopted if the former step was not approved. Conflict resolution begins with the arising of a conflict which should follow an already established procedure. In this case the employees inform the H&S of the situation alternatively if the management identifies the issue it should inform H&S and vice versa. When information gets to the relevant person consultation parties are identified and the issue discussed to resolve the conflict. If the conflict is resolved at this level the resolution is recorded and a reported to H&S committee. Incase at this point there is no resolution immediate threats are identified however if they do not exist H&S representatives issues provisional notice then a resolution found recorded and a report sent. If a threat exists there is need to stop direction by H&S or management before finding a resolution and in case it fails then work safe should be immediately informed. If there was no agreed procedure to follow and no representatives they are nominated and subsequent procedures adopted. What organizational issues can impact on consultations? According to [AMi08] in [AMi08] organizational affect the consultation process a great deal. For instance radical decline in resources necessary for the continuity of a firm’s operations has had great impact on consultations because it impacts directly on employees due to increased demand for restructuring and even lying off part of the workforce[AMi08]. In addition, the author identifies organizational culture is a major issue that can affect consultations in an organization. He argues that organizational culture refers to a set of basic assumptions through which group members are socialized for the purpose of successful cooperation. Therefore consultants should be accustomed to the culture as they plan to initiate the process. Assessment is yet another issue affecting consultation for instance organizations with complex systems pose a major challenge to consultant [AMi08]. Furthermore, issues such as the size of the organization the level of technological advancement, time constraint affect consultation process[AMi08]. References Hea: , (Health and safety management systems FAQs 2), Int11: , (International Association of Fire Chiefs, 2011), Ame07: , (Safety, American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Center for Chemical Process, 2007), Joh06: , (Richardson, 2006), Int11: , (International Association of Fire Chiefs, 2011), Int11: , (International Association of Fire Chiefs), Int11: , (Fire Investigator: Principles and Practice to NFPA 921 and 1033 - Page 137), Bre07: , (Breen Creighton), Bre07: , (Occupational Health and Safety Law in Victoria - Page 393, 2007), Bre07: , (Breen Creighton, 2007), Int11: , (International Association of Fire Chiefs, 2011; Breen Creighton, 2007), CCH10: , (CCH Australia Limited, 2010), Don06: , (Dongping Fang, 2006), CCH10: , (CCH Australia Limited), CCH10: , (Australian Master Human Resources Guide 2010), Joh06: , (Richardson, 2006), Joh06: , (An Introduction to the Study of Industrial Relations, Volume 5), Don06: , (Dongping Fang, 2006), Wal06: , (Karwowski), Wal06: , (Handbook On Standards And Guidelines in Ergonomics And Human Factors), Wal06: , (Karwowski, 2006), AMi08: , (Dougherty), AMi08: , (Psychological Consultation and Collaboration in School and Community Settings), AMi08: , (Dougherty, 2008), AMi08: , (Dougherty, 2008), Read More