Accidents don’t just happen. Something causes them, and usually more than one thing. An investigation should identify those causes, but the cause of an accident is not the same as the cause of an injury. Injuries may be caused by over-exertion, falls, and being struck by objects. Factors that caused the accident, however, are more complex. For example, a wet floor may cause a fall, but determining why the floor was wet and why the hazard wasn’t addressed gets at the root causes.

An accident or near-miss investigation should not stop upon finding an obvious cause; it should continue until all underlying factors are identified. If those root causes are not identified and addressed, they will continue to generate accidents. Effectively addressing the root causes should help prevent recurrence, which translates to fewer injuries.

This event will also include a live Q&A session!

Register for this free webinar here!

Speakers:

Edwin Zalewski Senior Editor – EHS J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
Edwin (Ed) Zalewski is an EHS Editor at J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. He researches and creates content for a variety of safety-related topics and contributes to a number of products. Edwin specializes in issues such as walking working surfaces, powered industrial trucks, and injury/illness recordkeeping.

Derick Plowden Technical Editor – EHS J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
Derick Plowden is a Technical Editor for J. J. Keller’s Content & Consulting Services. He writes for the HazSafety Training Advisor monthly newsletter, responds to customer questions, and contributes content for several publications. Derick specializes in topics including construction regulations, ergonomics, walking/working surfaces, personal protective equipment, and injury/illness recordkeeping.