How Should Safety Officers Respond to a Fatal Workplace Accident? Seeking Guidance

VIGNESH KANNAN
Handling a Fatal Accident in the Workplace

As a safety officer, what should we do when a fatal accident happens in our organization?

Steps to Take in the Event of a Fatal Accident

Please provide guidance on the steps to take in such a situation.
saswatabanerjee
First thing, Vignesh, is that you should not have been appointed to this job. Most states, under the factories rules, have specified qualifications for the safety officer and generally require training in the same before they are appointed. I would suggest you check your state rules and immediately arrange to get the relevant training and certification in place.

For the immediate problem, you need to file an accident report with the Factory Inspector (within 24 hours of the accident) and with the ESIC office if the person involved comes under ESIC. If the employee is not covered under the ESIC act, then compensation under the Employees Compensation Act must be computed and deposited with the relevant authority.

Also, if you have any insurance cover under which this accident falls, you must immediately report the same to the insurance company.

Then, you need to investigate the matter to find out how and why the accident took place, whether requisite safety equipment was provided and used, whether anyone was responsible, or anyone whose carelessness resulted in the fatal accident. Furthermore, you need to identify the changes needed to prevent the accident from recurring.

In most companies, the report as above needs to be immediately placed before the safety committee, and decisions/actions taken promptly.
pon1965
Report Filing Responsibilities

Report filing with the Factory Inspector and ESIC matters are the responsibility of HR/Admin personnel. The safety manager will assist them in report preparation if needed.

Vignesh: You have entered the wrong domain, perhaps due to pressures to provide for your family. Choosing the wrong profile can lead to a stagnant career path.

Analyzing Fatalities as a Safety Incharge

As a safety incharge, you should analyze the causative factors of fatalities by forming a committee to investigate accidents in detail. The findings should be shared with all stakeholders to prevent future occurrences.

Regards,
Pon.
saswatabanerjee
Thank you, Pon. You are right. I had assumed that reports were his responsibility. If the factory is large enough to have a safety officer, they must have a separate and competent HR department. I hope they have a safety committee also 

If you are knowledgeable about any fact, resource or experience related to this topic - please add your views. For articles and copyrighted material please only cite the original source link. Each contribution will make this page a resource useful for everyone. Join To Contribute