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Followed by witness interview now look on to the next source of information i.e. documents that
should be examined while investigating accidents.

• Company polices - HSE, Quality etc.,
• Risk Assessment
• Safe system of work
• Permit to work documents
• Training records
• Plant and machinery maintenance records
• Previous accidents / ill-health reports
• Previous enforcement action reports
• Worker complaints register
• Inspection reports

Step 2: Analysing Information

An analysis involves examining all the facts, determining what happened and why. All the
detailed information gathered should be assembled and examined to identify what information
is relevant and what information is missing. The information gathering and analysis are carried
out side by side. As the analysis progresses, further lines of enquiry requiring additional
information will develop.

To be thorough and free from bias, the analysis must be carried out systematically to identify

Immediate Cause

unsafe act, unsafe condition which contributed to the accident.
Unsafe acts show poor safety attitudes and show a lack of
proper training. These unsafe acts and conditions are brought
about by the so called ‘root-causes’ and are the latent failures
and are brought about by failures in the organisation and its
safety management system.

Unsafe act

The behaviour or omission of actions by the employees at the
workplace is direct cause which can contribute to the accident.

Unsafe Conditions

The workplace condition including the environment, condition of the machinery which can
contribute to the accidents.

ENSIGN | Unit IG1 – Element 4 – Health and Safety Monitoring and Measuring 13