44.111:  Investigation of Non-Radiation Injury Incidents

Status:	Approved on January 6, 2004	Signatures and dates on archival copy
Effective:	when approved
Initiated by:	Charles Hart Director of Environmental Health and Safety
Reviewed by:	Herman ("Butch") Hill, Chair Policy and Procedure Review Committee
Endorsed by:	Gary North Vice President for Administration
Approved by:	Stephen Kopp Provost

Purpose

To reduce injuries by reducing unsafe or hazardous conditions and discouraging incident-causing unsafe acts or practices.

Policy

I.  The Department of Environmental Health and Safety

The Department of Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for coordinating the investigation of injury incidents.

II.  Thoroughness of Investigation

Every minor or non-disabling injury will be investigated with the same vigor and thoroughness as serious injuries.

Minor or non-disabling injuries occur in relatively substantial numbers. Proper and complete investigation of these injuries can be an effective tool to prevent both similar and more serious injuries.

III.  Supervisor Responsibility

The supervisor under whose direction the employee works is responsible for conducting a complete and thorough investigation. He or she should reduce the findings to writing in the University Incident/Injury Investigation Report form, in triplicate: sending the original to the Workers' Compensation Administration office, the second copy to the Departmental Head, and the third copy to the supervisor. The Workers' Compensation Administration office will send a copy to the Department of Environmental Health and Safety.

Procedures

I.  Immediately after an Injury or Incident

1. The first step is to assure that the injured person receives proper medical care. Call 911 for emergency medical services, take the employee to the Occupational Health Clinic (or another medical facility) for medical evaluation and management in less severe cases.

2. Notify the Ohio University Police Department as soon as possible.

3. After the injured person has been properly cared for, the injury investigation procedure should be started promptly by the supervisor and submitted as outlined above. To the fullest extent possible without compromising safety, all the conditions that existed at the time of the incident should remain until the investigation is completed.

II.  Review of Injury Investigation Reports

All Injury Investigation Reports will be reviewed by the Safety Officer in the Department of Environmental Health and Safety to assure that all pertinent information has been developed and that remedial action will be taken. In the case of serious or unusual injuries, the Safety Officer will thoroughly investigate the incident.

In some cases it may be desirable to secure photographs, drawings, or other exhibits as attachments to the fact finding report, so that the facts involved in the incident will be clear. Reports should include detailed statements from all witnesses to the incident, as well as others who can provide information about the incident, if warranted.

III.  Follow-Up Action

It is important to include in the Injury Report the specific actions that will be taken and the deadline for their completion. The supervisor should follow-up to assure that the specified actions have been taken.

After the investigation is completed and remedial actions taken, the facts involved, findings developed, and remedial steps taken, should be brought to the attention of all employees in the incident area, and to those working on similar operations. The purpose of this communication is twofold:

1. To provide additional safety training based on the facts involved in the incident;

2. To let employees know about the actions taken to protect their safety; and

3. To prevent future incidents.

It is desirable to get employee suggestions because of their intimate contact with actual working conditions. Also, participation by employees encourages their cooperation in avoiding unsafe acts or practices and in preventing future injuries.

Reviewers

Proposed revisions of this policy should be reviewed by:

1. Policy and Procedure Review Committee

2. Director of Campus Safety

3. Director of Student Health Service

4. Director of Workers' Compensation Administration

Forms

The following form is specific to this policy:

1. The University Incident/Injury Investigation Report is available from the Department of Environmental Health and Safety, or from the Workers' Compensation Administration office.

Dick Piccard and Kristina Schnelle revised this file (http://www.ohiou.edu/policy/44-111.html) on January 6, 2004.

Please E-mail any comments or suggestions to "polproc@www.ohiou.edu".