Accident Investigation and RIDDOR Flashcards

What is the 'fault tree analysis' technique used in accident investigation?

Answer: A top-down systematic technique that starts with the accident (top event) and works backwards through possible causes, identifying contributing factors and logical relationships

Fault tree analysis (FTA) is a top-down deductive technique starting from the accident event and working backwards to identify all possible contributing causes. It uses logic gates (AND/OR) to map the causal chain and can identify multiple simultaneous causal paths.

A RIDDOR report for an over-7-day incapacitating injury must be submitted to the HSE. The 7 days is calculated as:

Answer: 7 consecutive days (including non-working days, but not the day of the accident) during which the worker is unable to carry out their normal range of work duties

The 7-day period begins the day after the accident and includes all days — working and non-working — during which the worker is incapacitated from their normal work. If the worker is still incapacitated after 7 consecutive days, the injury must be reported within 15 days of the accident.

An 'occupational disease' must be reported under RIDDOR when:

Answer: A doctor notifies the employer that a worker is suffering from a RIDDOR-listed occupational disease (such as carpal tunnel syndrome, occupational dermatitis, HAVS) and the work involves the associated activity

Occupational diseases listed in RIDDOR Schedule 3 must be reported when a diagnosis is made by a doctor and the work involves the listed causative activity. Examples include hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), carpal tunnel syndrome from use of vibrating tools, and occupational dermatitis from skin contaminants.

What is the role of the site manager in an accident investigation?

Answer: To ensure the scene is preserved, first aid and emergency services are called, relevant information and witnesses are identified, and the investigation process is initiated

The site manager's immediate duties after an accident: secure the scene, ensure first aid/emergency services, prevent disturbance of the scene until investigated, identify witnesses, gather initial information, and initiate the investigation process in accordance with the company's procedure.

Following an accident investigation, recommendations must be:

Answer: Specific, actionable, assigned to named individuals with target completion dates, and followed up to confirm they have been implemented effectively

Recommendations from accident investigations must be SMART — specific, assigned to named responsible persons, with target completion dates. Follow-up must confirm effective implementation. Generic or unassigned recommendations that are never followed up fail to prevent recurrence.

What is the purpose of retaining accident investigation records?

Answer: To identify trends in incidents, provide evidence of management systems in the event of prosecution, support insurance claims, and drive continuous improvement in health and safety management

Retained investigation records provide: trend data to identify recurring causes, evidence of a proactive safety management system in any prosecution, support for insurance/civil claims, and the basis for learning and improvement. They are a critical element of the safety management system.