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Employee Forklift Training _ 1-800-277-2

Accident Investigations Root Cause Analysis

Warehouse rack runs into rack causing collapse

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?

Accident investigations, when a forklift or other powered industrial truck accident occurs, is imperative to ensure proper and thorough investigations are completed to determine what factors or causes contributed to the occurrence of the accident. 

 

This is referred to as conducting a forklift accident root cause analysis or five-why analyses or fishbone analyses or in some, more advanced cases, a root cause map. 

 

Whichever tool is used, it's critical that you take the time to capture or "Freeze" the accident details in time so that they can be captured and properly documented to aid in the incident investigation. 

1-800-277-2267

On April 23, 2019, an employee was standing on a pallet that was sitting on the forks of a forklift. The employee was pouring a drum of soap mixture into a tank when he fell into the tank that had 110 gallons of soap mixture and 300 gallons of water heated to 80 degree Celsius.

 

The employee was taken to the hospital, where he later died due to burns to 97% of his body.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Incident Investigation Reporting | WorkSafeBC
04:27

Incident Investigation Reporting | WorkSafeBC

If a workplace incident takes place, employers have a responsibility to investigate to identify the cause and hazards, which helps prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. This video shows the steps in an incident investigation and demonstrates the Employer Incident Investigation Report (EIIR) documentation and submission process. In this video, a supervisor and worker discuss an incident at work, how they corrected the issue immediately, and how they fill out their employer incident investigation report. This video serves as a resource on the steps for completing a workplace incident investigation report in British Columbia. It also reminds employers that investigations need to involve the joint health and safety committee or worker health and safety representative where applicable. Learn more about employer responsibilities at http://worksafebc.com/create-manage. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:31 Correct the issue immediately 0:50 Preliminary investigation report 1:04 Interim corrective action report 1:10 WorkSafeBC report template 1:47 Investigate the “how” and “why” 2:34 Full investigation completed in 30 days 2:59 Send investigation reports to WorkSafeBC 3:26 Timelines & due dates of incident investigation reports __________________________________________________________ We’re working to make a difference in workplace health and safety in British Columbia, Canada. By partnering with workers and employers, we help British Columbians come home from work safe every day. Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/WorkSafe... Find us on social media: X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/WorkSafeBC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worksafebc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorkSafeBC/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/worksafebc/ Visit our website for the most up-to-date health and safety information and regulatory requirements: https://www.worksafebc.com #WorkSafeBC #workplacehealthandsafety Legal terms: All videos posted by the Workers’ Compensation Board (“WorkSafeBC”) are protected by Canadian and international copyright laws, policies, and treaties. The use of WorkSafeBC videos and other materials is governed by WorkSafeBC’s copyright and trademark statement, available here: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/legal/c.... Videos cannot be uploaded to other channels without prior permission. If you wish to request permission for use of our videos, please contact us: copyright [at] worksafebc.com
Forklift loading pallet onto a trailer

ARE 

YOU READY?

Are members of your leadership team trained in the correct method or process to use when it comes to accident investigations? 

 

Do they have the tools necessary to conduct the investigations?  Is there a company policy that calls out the process or requirement for an accident investigation? 

 

Far too frequently, employers will simply attribute the accident to, "Operator error". 

1-800-277-2267

Stand up forklift crashes off loading dock

PREVENT 

RECURRENCE

We can tell you definitively that there are always factors that point to a systemic or process issue that contributed to the accident.  OSHA's 29 CFR 191.178 does not call out investigation requirements for employers. 

 

However, on serious or fatal accidents that involve your employees, OSHA will be called out to the scene to take over and perform a complete investigation. 

 

Employee Forklift Training staff can help ensure your team is properly trained in the processes involved in accident investigations.  

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Your team freezes the accident scene, as much as possible, to prevent evidence from being disturbed.  Our investigative team will come to the site and begin an immediate investigation focusing on the following areas:

​

  • Safety Committee Engagement

  • Employee Training Records Review;

  • Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Records;

  • Operator Interview;

  • Witness Interviews;

  • Accident Site Visit;

  • Accident Scene Re-creation;

  • Photos, Videos, Drawings, Sketches, Measurements, etc.;

  • Accident Incident Reports Review;

  • Video Surveillance Reviews;

  • Training Program Reviews and Evaluation;

  • Supervisor / Manager Equipment Operations Safety Management Assessments;

  • Truck Safety Equipment;

  • Employee Pedestrian Training Records;

  • OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178 Site Compliance;

  • Weather Evaluations;

  • Visibility Evaluations;

  • Facility Operations / Safety Policies;

  • Employee Disciplinary Action Records;

​

Post Investigation Results:

  • Root Cause Map Development;

  • Written Report Outlining Detailed Improvement Opportunities;

  • Report Debrief with Facility Leadership;

  • Training Assistance if Necessary

​

1-800-277-2267

Serious forklift accident causing injuries to operator
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