Advanced Accident Investigations

Description

Thorough accident investigation training is essential to effective risk management. Despite this many staff members do not know what to do in the “golden 24-hour period” after an accident occurs. The result is that essential information is lost or tainted.

Merely investigating an accident in of itself is not enough: what do you do with your findings? What lessons are to be learned? Can anything be done to prevent a future re-occurrence?

La Touche Training provides this advanced legal training course for delegates to learn the competencies and skills to apply best practice in their investigation of an accident, identify its underlying causes and then develop a corrective action strategy to stop it from happening again. They will learn about their legal reporting obligations to authorities such as the Health and Safety Authority. They will learn the skills to collect, store and record essential information to minimise the risk of the accident happening again and where appropriate to defend the organisation in a civil or criminal case. They will leave gaining the skills required to conduct a full and impartial investigation that will provide for effective risk management and adequate defence of any potential civil or criminal legal proceedings.

What you will learn

This advanced course is spread over two days.

On the first day delegates will gain an overview of the Irish legal system, including the courts, civil law, the law of negligence, personal injuries law, and the rules of evidence. They will learn the essential elements of Health and Safety law and in what circumstances they are to report an incident to the Health and Safety Authority. They will then learn how to conduct an investigation, starting with the importance of preserving the scene, identifying witnesses and evidence. Their trainer will guide them on how to properly interview witnesses, teaching them different interviewing techniques and strategies, and how to draft statements.

On day two delegates will be trained in root cause analysis and different analysis techniques such as using Ishikawa/fishbone diagrams, barrier analysis, fault tree analysis and failure mode and effects analysis. Once root causes have been identified, delegates will be trained on how to present the findings of their investigation and their recommendations for corrective action in a cogent, coherent written report.

This course covers the essential steps and techniques to conduct thorough and insightful investigations.

Key learning points:

• How to respond immediately when an accident occurs,
• Reporting the incident to the authorities/HSA,
• Civil and criminal proceedings arising out of an accident,
• Understanding the Irish legal system and the possibility of civil and criminal litigation,
• Key aspects of negligence and personal injuries law,
• Evidence – rules, admissibility,
• Circumstances where incidents must be reported under law.
• Preserving the scene/emergency response plans,
• Commencing the investigation, opening an investigation file,
• Best practice in note taking and record management,
• Techniques for interviewing witnesses, such as cognitive interviewing/retrieval techniques,
• What a good statement looks like,
• Analysing the root cause of the incident,
• Root cause analysis techniques,
• Writing the investigation report,
• Giving evidence with confidence in court.

Who should attend this course:

• HSEQ Officers
• Company directors
• Small business owners
• Risk managers
• Line managers
• Claims assessors