Learning from Safety Failure
RoSPA Accident Investigation Challenge supported by TUC, CBI, IOSH and ABI
Team based investigation
Research carried out for RoSPA has confirmed that a 'team approach' to learning from accidents, involving employees, including safety representatives (where they have been appointed), can be extremely powerful, particularly if it is led by senior managers and supported by OS&H professionals acting as facilitators.
Team based investigation can:
- provide access to local, 'expert' knowledge, particularly about operational issues;
- support the building of trust and the development of 'just' (open, fair) cultures;
- develop participants' understanding of risk management in practice;
- promote learning about how to investigate in general (i.e. not just H&S failures);
- create workforce 'champions' for OS&H, particularly informal support for closure on recommendations; and it can
- provide a check of safety management standards (acting as a complement to formal audit of management systems).
Team based investigation works best where organisations have clear and well used 'near miss' procedures. Daily, informal investigation of lower risk safety issues and problems is important in creating a positive climate for more structured investigation when major safety failures occur.
Check out your organisation's approach to accident investigation!
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RoSPA is a registered charity: Registered Charity No: 207823 Patron: Her Majesty the Queen RoSPA Head Office: Edgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7ST, UK |
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