The goal of any safety policy is to avoid accidents in the first place. But mishaps happen even in the most rigorous safety regimes. When these incidents take place, it’s important to report them properly.
There are many reasons it’s important to have proper documentation. There may be future medical or legal consequences. Benefits, such as workman’s comp, might be at stake. Plus, knowing exactly what happened makes avoiding a similar event in the future that much easier.
Once an accident happens, take care of the people involved and stabilize the situation. Then, make sure to record all the pertinent details about the incident in a thorough, organized way. Here are some of the key items to include:
-
Basic Facts
If a safety mishap takes place, the first thing to do is get the basic facts. It’s important to document the event as soon as possible after it happens, starting with the establishing the fundamental details:
-Time
-Place
-People involved
-Witnesses
When did the incident take place? Include the specific date and time.
Where did it happen? Be as specific as possible. Don’t just say “on the shop floor.” Pinpoint the spot as much as you can.
Who was involved? List everyone who was impacted by the incident. Also, write down all the witnesses – include everyone who was present, even if they didn’t report seeing anything.
-
Sequence of Events (Be as Specific as Possible)
Describe the incident in as much detail as possible, making sure to be as expansive as you can. You aren’t just describing the singular incident. You need to give the context and any contributing factors.
For instance, detail the conditions leading up to the event. Explain exactly what the people involved were doing at the time. And outline the general environment.
After an accident, you can never be certain what information will be important later on. So record as much detail as possible while memories are fresh.
-
Consequences
List any consequences from the mishap. If there were any injuries, detail what happened and what medical treatment, if any, was required.
Take stock of any damage that was done. List any broken equipment or any damaged property. Also, list any particular cleanup tasks that were necessary.
-
Recommendations
The key result of any mistake is to learn how to avoid it again in the future. That should be the goal of any accident report. You are trying to discover what happened, so you know how to sidestep a similar mishap in the future.
Any good accident report will include detailed recommendations on how things can be improved. This can cover new safety policies that may need to be implemented. It might suggest new equipment that could help avoid future issues.
Safety first!
Getting an outside opinion can help as well. Qualified Staffing can provide important information on how to improve your safety procedures before an accident report becomes necessary. Contact us today for more details.