Construction Small Business Checklists - Section 4

Report and Investigate Accidents, Injuries and Near Misses

 

NOTE: Workplace fatalities or accidents resulting in two or more employees being hospitalized must be reported to L&I within 8 hours. Either your nearest field office, or 1-800-423-7233

 

 

Have a way for employees to report unsafe conditions or potential hazards

• This is a basic requirement for your Accident Prevention Plan.

Give each of your employees a wallet card to use in case of injury

Have accident and injury report forms for every one to use

• Another basic requirement, it also gives you valuable management information and helps prevent injuries from recurring.

Keep an OSHA 300 log (if required)

• Most small businesses aren't required to keep one, but the decision tree will tell you if your are.

Have an effective system for investigating accidents, incidents or near misses

• Finding the root causes helps you eliminate hazards before they cost you any more money. And investigating "near misses means you catch them before they cost you anything.
• See guidelines on how to determine root causes.

"Operator error" is never the cause of a mishap. It's the consequence of the real causes

Use results of your investigations to update your APP

• Expensive lessons shouldn't be forgotten.