RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
December 6, 1999
LEARNING NOT BLAME KEY TO ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
New findings about occupational accident investigations suggest they need to be led by line managers rather than safety professionals, if they are to be fully effective, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents revealed today.
Emphasis needs to be placed on identifying underlying weaknesses in health and safety management systems, rather than on the more common practice of apportioning blame.
RoSPA is concerned about the under-reporting of accidents and the missed opportunities for learning lessons from investigations, which could saves lives. Most accidents are not investigated at all.
A study for the Society by investigation expert, Dr John Kingston, has looked at the methods used by seven award-winning companies. His findings will be discussed at an accident investigation conference organised by IIR in London tomorrow (Tues, Dec 7), attended by Government Safety Minister Lord Whitty.
They include:
Investigations should be led and ‘owned’ by line managers not health and safety professionals
A team approach, involving craftspeople and safety representatives, who not only have expert knowledge of technology and work practices, but who can also ‘champion’ actions arising from investigations
Health and safety professionals need to support investigations as ‘process doctors’ - not take over
The vital importance of good interviewing skills when gathering evidence
The necessity for more ‘near miss’ or ‘near hit’ reporting to help build a confident reporting and investigation culture
The seven participating companies were: PowerGen; CCG (UK) Ltd; Haden Young; Kellogg Company of Great Britain; Foster Wheeler Energy; Scottish & Southern Energy; and Shell UK Exploration and Production.
RoSPA believes too little priority has been given to accident investigation in the past. The Society has been helping the Health and Safety Commission to promote national discussion on the case for a clearer legal duty on employers to investigate accidents.
