Education's Own Insurance Company www.ue.org1
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
Education's Own Insurance Company www.ue.org3
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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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.org7
How to Report an Injury:
Documenting and Preserving Evidence
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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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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
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