Page 14 - Occupational Health & Safety - eDITION, August 2017

INCIDENT INVESTIGATION
DITION
The e-Hazard Safety CycleTM: Incident Investigation
Define a finite number of investigation techniques that will be used. Once the policy is rolled out, training on those investigation techniques will be required. BY HUGH HOAGLAND AND ZARHEER JOOMA
Scientific literature strongly emphasizes the need for inves- tigating incidents. The e-Hazard Safety CycleTM includes incident investigations as a key element. When harm or loss occurs, an incident is known as an “accident.” When harm or loss does not occur, but could have occurred under dif- ferent circumstances, these types of incidents are known as near misses, sometimes called near hits.
Much can be learned from near misses, and they provide the best context for learning because no harm or loss was incurred by the organization. The “Incident Investigation” element must be in- tegrated into both the “Electrical Safety Program” (ESP) element and the organization’s safety management system.
Envision:
1. In order to manage the incident investigations, an organiza- tional policy is the first step. This document should identify the
following:
1. Define roles and responsibilities of each person in-
volved in the policy drafting phase. Include timelines (see next point on Milestones).
2. Identify the types of incidents requiring investigations. Workers in the field benefit from specific examples you can provide. 3. Define a finite number of investigation techniques that will be used (e.g., 5 Whys, Cause and Effect Diagrams). Once the policy is rolled out, training on those investigation techniques will
be required.
4. Use templates for reporting, collecting data/evidence,
assigning actions, and tracking.
2. Set milestones for the completion of the organizational
policy. It would not be best to set end dates to the process, but rather to clearly define a starting date and establish milestones. As with the other elements, define one person who will be respon- sible for the organizational policies on incident investigations. Ensure that a diverse mix of skills is included in the process. A safety manager, engineer, and electrician may suffice for most organizations.
Near miss incidents are often the best indicators. This is due to the fact that they are leading indicators of future accidents.
Execute:
1. Engage in training on the organizational policy. At this stage, feedback from workers in the field and management may warrant changes to the draft policy.
2. Assign roles and responsibilities to the key role players de- fined in the policy.
3. Set a date and go live with the policy.
Evaluate:
1. Identify ways to monitor the effectiveness of the investigation policy:
a. Have electrical incidents shown a downward trend? Near miss incidents are often the best indicators. This is due to the fact that they are leading indicators of future accidents (think about the safety triangle, Heinrich, or Baird-Germaine Models).
b. Interview workers in the field. Do they understand the pol- icy, and if so, do they understand their specific roles according to the policy?
c. Have the program manager (lead author of the policy) be part of an investigation from start to finish. Is the process running as it was envisioned? If not, why not?
2. Audit completed investigations against the policy.
Evolve:
1. Engage with key role players and devise an action plan to re- mediate the findings.
2. Don’t just identify a problem and present a working solution; get employee buy-in.
3. Ensure that the program manager attends periodic training on trends in incident investigations. At the same time, have knowledgeable persons (electrician, electrical engi-
Interview workers in the field. Do they understand the policy, and if so, do they understand their specific roles according to the policy?
neers) attend electrical safety conferences to glean knowledge from case histories.
Hugh Hoagland, senior managing partner of e-Hazard, is one of the most active trainers and researchers in electric arc protection. His NFPA 70E and OSHA 1910.269/NESC Training Programs are used by many Fortune 500 companies and governmental agencies including Alcoa, GM, Toyota, Bechtel, DOE, and hundreds of elec- tric utilities. He has performed and developed testing (by original research and participation in ASTM, NFPA, ANSI, CSA, IEC and ISO standards groups) for the electric arc since 1994 and has per- formed more than 50,000 electric arc tests.
Zarheer Jooma joined e-Hazard after several years with both Eskom Generation and the largest steel producer in Africa, Arce- lorMittal. He has extensive experience in power system design, low and medium voltage reticulation and control systems, and safe operating and maintenance practices. A registered Profes- sional Electrical Engineer, Zarheer brings a unique perspective to the classroom having helped develop SANS 724—the South African National Standard for Protective Equipment against the Thermal Hazards of an Electrical Arc. He is a much sought-after speaker and trainer throughout Africa and the Middle East and an active contributor to the South African Bureau of Standards. Zarheer is a member of the SABS SC67E committee and the IEC TC78 – Live Working Committee.
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