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Accident Investigations:Avoiding Common

Mistakes

Kim NimmoRisk Services Consultant

Education's Own Insurance Company www.ue.org2

Objectives

What is an accident? Recognize the occurrence of an accident/injury

What to report and why?

When to report an accident/injury?

How to complete the report? Documenting and preserving evidence Where to find the report

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Nobody Knows Education Better

What is an Accident?

Unplanned event with negative outcome (personal injury or property damage)

Accidents are the result of people, equipment, materials or environment failing to perform as expected or required

All accidents have consequences or outcomes

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What Should Be Reported

All injuries regardless of severity

Vehicular, structural or equipment damage

Procedural deficiencies

Potentially unsafe conditions

Potentially unsafe behaviors

Near-miss incidents

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Why: Regulatory Reporting Requirements

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When to Report

Immediately after incident Witnesses memories fade Evidence and clues

are moved or lost

Finish initial investigation quickly

The incident will be reviewed months or years later.

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How to Report an Injury:

Documenting and Preserving Evidence

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Documentation

Just the facts!

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What You DON’T Want in Your Reports

Subjective conclusions or assumptions as to who is at fault

Opinions on how accident could have been avoided

Unsubstantiated evidence

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Critical Documentation: Be Specific

What happened and when?

Where did it happen?

Who was involved?

Who witnessed it?

Who responded?

How did it happen?

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CUA – First Report of Injury Form

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CUA – First Report of Injury Form

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Injuries / Damages

Physical signs of injury Difficulty moving parts

of body Taken to hospital? Treatment given and by

whom Evidence of property

damage Statements made

relating to prior history

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Accident Details

Weather conditions Location of each

individual Destination Reason for being there Familiarity with location

Type of surface

Foreign objects or

substances

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When to Report

Immediately after incident Witnesses memories fade Evidence and clues

are moved or lost

Finish initial investigation quickly

The incident will be reviewed months or years later.

Education's Own Insurance Company www.ue.org19

Objectives review What is an accident?

Recognize the occurrence of an accident/injury

What to report and why?

When to report an accident/injury?

How to complete the report? Documenting & preserving

evidence Where to find the report

Education's Own Insurance Company www.ue.org20

Q & A