Accident/Incident Reporting

“AIR”

OBJECTIVES

Recognize the purpose of the new AIR form

Define reportable accidents, incidents and hazardous conditions

Describe the notification procedures for reports

Be able to locate the AIR form onlineProperly complete an accident, incident

or hazardous condition report

PURPOSE

To create a form that is unique to the Fire Department

To comply with Federal, State and City reporting requirements

Streamline the report distribution process

Improve reporting accuracy and timeliness

Identify accident patterns

Recognize potentially hazardous situations

Report and review near misses

What Is An Accident?

An unplanned, unwanted, but controllable event which disrupts the work process and causes

property damage or injury to people

Most everyone would agree that an accident is unplanned and unwanted. The idea that an accident is controllable might be a new concept. An accident stops the normal course of events and causes property damage or personal injury, minor or serious, and occasionally results in a fatality.

What Is An Incident?Near Miss

An unplanned and unwanted event which disrupts the work process and has the potential of resulting in injury, harm, or damage to persons or property.

An incident may disrupt the work process, but does not result in injury or damage. It should be Taken as a “wake up call”. It can be thought of as the first of a series of events which could lead to a situation in which harm or damage does occur.

Example of an incident: A 50 lb carton falls off the top shelf of a 12’ high rack and lands near a worker. This event is unplanned, unwanted, and has the potential for injury.

THE “TIP OF THE ICEBERG”

Don’t only report accidents. Incidents should also be reported and investigated. They were in a sense, “aborted accidents”.Criteria for investigating an incident: What is reasonably the worst outcome, equipment damage, or injury to the worker? What might the severity of the worst outcome have been? If it would have resulted in significant property loss or a serious injury, then the incident should be investigated with the same thoroughness as an accident investigation.

Accidents or injuries are the tip of the iceberg of hazards.

Report incidents (near misses) since they are potential “accidents in progress”.

Accidents

Incidents

Lack of safety leadership

Lack of supervision

Lack of Training

Diesel fumes

Rules not enforced

Poor work proceduresPurchasing unsafe equipment

No follow-up/feedback

Poor safety management Poor safety leadership

Didn’t follow procedures

Poor housekeeping

Horseplay

Ignored safety rules

Defective tools

Don’t know howNo MSDS’s

THE “ACCIDENT WEED”

Hazardous Conditions

Hazardous Practices

Did not report hazardEquipment failure

Root Causes

REPORTABLE ACCIDENTS/INCIDENTS

Any accident that results in damage to equipment, vehicles or property of the City of Kirkland

Any accident that involves a City of Kirkland employee and results in damage to equipment, vehicles or property not belonging to the City of Kirkland

Any accident resulting exposure, injury or death of a City of Kirkland employee

Near miss incidents, no damage or injuries, potential future accidents

ACTIONS AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE

Check for danger

Help the injured

Secure the scene

Contact your supervisor and the on-duty Battalion Chief

Contact Kirkland Police (if outside of KPD jurisdiction, call local police and KPD)

Identify witnesses

Take lots of pictures

Gather the facts

Complete required documents

First, make sure you and others don’t become victims! Always check for still-present dangerous situations. Then, help the injured as necessary. Secure the scene and initiate chains of custody for physical evidence. Contact your on-duty supervisor and Battalion Chief. Identify witnesses and physical evidence.

Accidents Causing Injuries or Death

Check for danger

Help the injured

Secure the scene

Contact Supervisor and Battalion Chief. If any employee is hospitalized overnight, the on-duty Battalion Chief(or designee) must notify Washington State Department of Labor and Industries within eight hours of the accident

If there is a fatality, the on-duty Battalion Chief(or designee) must notify Washington State Department of Labor and Industries within eight hours of the accident

Contact Safety 21 via dispatch, or phone

Accidents Causing Injuries or Death (continued)

In case of serious injuries or death, secure the site of the accident, preserve the scene for further investigation. Take pictures of the accident site

Provide personnel to assist in the L&I investigation

Accompany injured firefighters to the hospital

Insure that proper paperwork is completed (MIRF etc.)

Contact Safety Officer

INCIDENTS Near Misses

Secure the area to prevent a dangerous incident from turning into an accident

Notify your on-duty supervisor

Complete the new online “AIR” form

Notify the Safety Officer via email advising that a form is on the way

HAZARDOUS CONDITION REPORTING

A hazardous condition is considered a potential incident or accident. Nothing has happened yet (no near miss, injury, or property damage)

If possible, correct the situation at the time it is discovered

Secure the area to prevent people from being injured

Report the situation, using the AIR form, as soon as possible after discovering the hazardous condition

The supervisor is only required to sign the Hazardous Condition report if it is presented to him/her. If preferred, the person reporting the hazardous condition can remain anonymous. This is not acceptable for reports of hazardous conditions, accidents or incidents

AIR FORM REPORTING PROCESS

Locate the AIR form on the RGT Website under Forms-Kirkland

Once it is pulled up- click the “Highlight Existing Fields” icon

This will highlight the fields that are fillable

Choose the type of report by checking the appropriate box

Fill out the form completely online, together with the on-duty supervisor. Use the TAB key to navigate the fields

Do not try to save the document unless you “save as” another name

Print the document, sign and date it, and have the supervisor also sign it

The entire last page is a page for the narrative. Please be very detailed. Include pictures with the description if possible

AIR FORM REPORTING PROCESS

Continued Once completed and signed by you and your on-duty

supervisor, send the completed form to the Safety Officer

Notify the safety office immediately using email (Safe21) or phone call, for all reports. This allows the safety division to anticipate the report

All reports and notifications must be done on the same day as the event

If the injured party is not able to complete the report at that time, the supervisor will complete the detailed report as described. The injured employee must complete a report as soon as he/she is able

In addition to the instructions above, immediate notifications of serious injuries include the chief, deputy chiefs and safety officer

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

Safety is always first at the scene of an accident, incident, or hazardous condition

Reports must be completed on the same day as the event

The only person you need to send the report to is the safety officer. We will distribute the report from our office

Always notify your on-duty supervisor and Battalion Chief

Always notify Safety 21 when you have filled out a report. Use email Safe21 or call 3698 or 206-963-3001. Leave a detailed message if there is no answer.

Page three of the report is a full page, fillable, section that can be used for the narrative. Please be detailed in the narrative

The Safety Committee will review all submitted reports. The Designated Safety Officer may contact you for additional details prior to the next safety meeting

CONCLUSION

Like any new process, we expect some changes to be made to this form and/or the process as we receive constructive feedback from you. If you ever have any questions or suggestions please don’t hesitate to call or write me.

Officers- Please have your crew go through this process as a training exercise. There is no better learning tool than to actually go through the process to see how it works.

Thank you for your work!!

Mike Dettmer

425-587-3699