CITB Managers Accident Investigation and RIDDOR 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the 'fault tree analysis' technique used in accident investigation?
- A method for costing the consequences of an accident
- A top-down systematic technique that starts with the accident (top event) and works backwards through possible causes, identifying contributing factors and logical relationships (Correct answer)
- A technique for identifying who was at fault
- A method for documenting the physical evidence at the accident scene
Correct 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.
Question 2: A RIDDOR report for an over-7-day incapacitating injury must be submitted to the HSE. The 7 days is calculated as:
- 7 calendar days from the date of the accident including the day of the accident
- 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 (Correct answer)
- Only working days the worker would normally have been scheduled to work
- Any days the worker is off, including days off for non-work-related reasons
Correct 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.
Question 3: An 'occupational disease' must be reported under RIDDOR when:
- Any worker mentions they feel unwell after work
- 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 (Correct answer)
- Only after 6 months of symptoms
- Only if the worker has worked for the employer for more than 2 years
Correct 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.
Question 4: What is the role of the site manager in an accident investigation?
- To protect the company from legal liability by limiting information
- 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 (Correct answer)
- To carry out the investigation independently without involving the injured worker
- To wait for the HSE to conduct the investigation
Correct 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.
Question 5: Following an accident investigation, recommendations must be:
- Filed for future reference with no action required
- Specific, actionable, assigned to named individuals with target completion dates, and followed up to confirm they have been implemented effectively (Correct answer)
- Generic to avoid committing to specific changes
- Only implemented if the HSE specifically requires it
Correct 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.
Question 6: What is the purpose of retaining accident investigation records?
- Only to satisfy RIDDOR record-keeping requirements
- 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 (Correct answer)
- To provide information for the company's annual report only
- Records need not be retained unless the HSE requests them
Correct 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.
CITB Managers Accident Investigation and RIDDOR 3
What is the 'fault tree analysis' technique used in accident investigation?