How to conduct an incident/accident investigation

After the incident/accident has been handled, we must conduct a corresponding investigation into it. Today, we will discuss how to carry out such an investigation. 01 Measures to be taken upon occurrence of an incident/accident (1) Upon occurrence of an incident/accident, activate the emergency response plan; organize rescue operations using effective measures—ensuring rescuers’ safety—to prevent escalation or secondary incidents and minimize casualties and property losses. Promptly transport injured personnel to medical institutions for treatment and advance payment of medical expenses. (2) Upon occurrence of an incident/accident, personnel at the accident site shall immediately report to their unit’s responsible person and simultaneously notify the EHS (Environment, Health & Safety) department. (3) Upon receiving the report, if the incident involves serious injury or worse, the unit’s responsible person shall report to the local government’s work safety supervision and administration department—or other departments bearing work safety supervision responsibilities—at the county level or above where the incident occurred, within the prescribed time limit. In urgent situations, personnel at the accident site may directly report to the aforementioned local government departments. (4) Under conditions ensuring safety, the investigation team—wearing appropriate personal protective equipment—shall inspect and confirm the accident scene. (5) Where similar incidents may occur in other areas/equipment, or where the incident may escalate or trigger a secondary incident, the department where the incident occurred and the EHS department shall jointly assess and implement temporary emergency measures, and promptly notify other relevant departments to take immediate preventive actions. (6) If new developments arise after the initial accident report, supplementary reporting must be conducted promptly. Within 30 days from the date of the incident, any change in the number of casualties shall be reported without delay. For road traffic accidents and fire accidents, any change in casualty numbers within 7 days of occurrence must likewise be reported promptly. 02 Collection of original evidence 1. After an incident/accident occurs, the EHS department collects on-site original evidence based on the “Incident/Accident Confirmation Form.” 2. The department where the incident/accident occurred shall actively cooperate with evidence collection to ensure accurate documentation of the original situation. 3. Within one hour of the incident/accident, the involved department shall submit an incident/accident summary report to the EHS department and assume responsibility for its accuracy. 4. The summary report shall include: ・Basic incident/accident information: e.g., department involved, type of incident, time and location, equipment involved, personnel information, and preliminary estimate of direct economic losses; ・Brief account of the incident/accident and its impact; ・Preliminary cause analysis; ・Temporary corrective measures. 03 Formation of the incident/accident investigation team (1) Near-miss incidents shall be investigated by the department where they occurred, which shall analyze root causes and propose and implement corrective actions. The EHS department reviews the investigation findings and supervises implementation of corrective actions. (2) Following an incident/accident, the EHS department organizes an investigation team, with the head of the EHS department serving as team leader. In the case of a major incident, the company’s Safety Committee organizes the investigation team, with the General Manager serving as team leader. (3) The investigation team comprises leaders from: the department where the incident occurred; the EHS department; the Human Resources Department; the Trade Union; other relevant departments; and equipment manufacturers, as applicable.

Occupational Safety Management – Chapter Six: Investigation and Analysis of Production Safety Accidents

After a production safety accident occurs, personnel at the accident site shall immediately report to their unit’s responsible person; upon receiving the report, the responsible person shall report to the work safety supervision and administration department of the local people’s government at or above the county level—and to other departments bearing work safety supervision responsibilities—within one hour. Prompt reporting to the unit’s responsible person and relevant competent authorities after an accident plays a crucial role in enabling timely emergency rescue measures, preventing accident escalation, and minimizing casualties and property losses. Upon receiving an accident report, the work safety supervision and administration department and other departments bearing work safety supervision responsibilities shall report the accident in accordance with the following provisions, and notify public security organs, labor security administrative departments, trade unions, and people’s procuratorates: 1. Extraordinarily major accidents and major accidents shall be reported successively up to the State Administration of Work Safety and other departments bearing work safety supervision responsibilities under the State Council. 2. Significant accidents shall be reported successively up to the work safety supervision and administration departments—and other departments bearing work safety supervision responsibilities—of provincial-level people’s governments (i.e., provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government). 3. General accidents shall be reported to the work safety supervision and administration departments—and other departments bearing work safety supervision responsibilities—of municipal-level people’s governments at the prefecture level. The time allowed for each successive level to report accident details shall not exceed two hours. If new developments arise after the initial accident report, supplementary reporting must be conducted promptly. Within 30 days from the date of the accident, any change in the number of casualties shall be reported without delay. For road traffic accidents and fire accidents, any change in casualty numbers within 7 days of occurrence must likewise be reported promptly. Key Point 5: Requirements for supplementary reporting of accidents If new developments arise after the initial accident report, supplementary reporting must be conducted promptly. Within 30 days from the date of the accident, any change in the number of casualties shall be reported without delay. For road traffic accidents and fire accidents, any change in casualty numbers within 7 days of occurrence must likewise be reported promptly. Chapter Six, Section Two: Accident Investigation and Analysis Key Point 7: Organization of accident investigations Extraordinarily major accidents shall be investigated by the State Council or by departments authorized by the State Council. Major accidents, significant accidents, and general accidents shall be investigated respectively by provincial-level, prefecture-level, and county-level people’s governments where the accidents occurred. Provincial-level, prefecture-level, and county-level people’s governments may either directly organize accident investigation teams or authorize or delegate relevant departments to do so. For general accidents causing no casualties, county-level people’s governments may also delegate the accident investigation to the unit where the accident occurred. Where the location of an accident below the level of extraordinarily major accident differs from the location of the unit where it occurred—i.e., they fall under different administrative divisions at or above the county level—the people’s government at the accident site shall lead the investigation, while the people’s government at the location of the unit where the accident occurred shall send representatives to participate. Accident investigation follows the principle of “government leadership and graded responsibility.” Regardless of the accident level, the investigation is always led by the government; regardless of the level, the government bears ultimate responsibility for the investigation.

I-TEAM: Employee Dies at Chemical Plant in Iberville Parish, Investigation Underway

5 days ago

An employee died at Westlake Chemical Corporation's Iberville Parish plant following a medical emergency, prompting an autopsy and investigation. The facility has a history of regulatory issues, including prior OSHA fines for chlorine exposure and an EPA-noted fire.

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