TSPS MAY 2025 FINAL - Flipbook - Page 26
SAFETY ARTICLE
INCIDENT REPORTING
o many, the term “accident” often refers
to an unplanned, unwanted event. It
suggests that the event was random and
could not have been prevented. OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the
Federal government) says otherwise. Since nearly all work site events such as fatalities, injuries,
and illnesses are preventable, the term “incident”
should be used when referring to these events.
Why is incident reporting necessary?
Incident reporting provides a process in which
the situation can be corrected, and this prevents
similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Reporting gives the chance to establish the facts
about the situation and the chance to correct anything about the situation that needs to be changed
to make it a better situation in the future.
If management is not aware of what kinds of
problems are occurring in the workplace that
may have already caused injury or property damage, then it is
ments. When a correction has been implemented it often shows
impossible to create improved processes that protect workers.
up as an improvement in procedure. This is an improvement in
Management must be made aware of the kinds of problems that
safety.
are occurring, then they will be able to prepare for and to preWith completed incident reports, a company can protect themvent workers from using methods which are
selves from undue lawsuits. They are seen as
faulty, and they will prevent these injuries
aggressive and get to the bottom of things.
from occurring. They can prevent dangerWithout a complete record of what actually
TO BE CLEAR, ALL
happened, there is not much the company
ous situations that prevent the company
INCIDENTS, NEAR-MISSES
can provide in defense, if needed.
from acting against bad situations.
AND INJURIES SHOULD BE
Reporting a near miss or a minor incident
Prompt medical attention may be necesREPORTED IMMEDIATELY.
is
cheaper than dealing with the costs assosary. Prompt medical attention ensures that
THE INCIDENT REPORTING
a minor injury doesn’t become worse and
ciated with a major injury, equipment failPROCESS WILL DETERMINE
develop into an infection or become life
ure, fatality or signi昀椀cant property damage.
THE FOLLOW UP REQUIRED,
threatening. Always inspect potential injuA near miss or minor incident is always less
IF ANY.
of an issue and more easily dealt with than
ries and treat them as if they were critical
if it is unreported and then found out later.
until they have been inspected 昀椀rst.
Feedback from incidents that are reported provides a way to
When a minor incident is ignored or when a near miss is not
encourage employee participation in the workplace safety imreported, the workplace is at an even greater risk for a more serious incident to occur in the future. This is because the hazard
provement strategies. Employee participation is always good,
or inef昀椀cient process was never provided with a chance to be
and feedback from employees is always better if it comes voluncorrected. A minor incident or near miss can easily escalate when
tarily rather than under pressure.
an inef昀椀cient process is allowed to continue or to
Incident reporting is a key habit that creates a
develop.
stronger culture. Good habits are hard to instill, and
Documenting all incidents allows a company to
incident reporting instills good procedures that protrack patterns, realize trends, and discover anomduce good results.
To be clear, all incidents, near-misses and injuries
alies. Tracking recurring incidents and patterns alshould
be reported immediately. The incident reportlows a company to see where and how they are falling short of goals, and to take measures to prevent
ing process will determine the follow up required, if
these things from happening in the future.
any. An employee should not have to make a guess
As it is often found, a correction implemented
as to whether their issue or “incident” is worthy of an
W. J. BREAUX, RPLS,
Chair, TSPS
to solve a safety hazard or prevent an incident can
incident report. When in doubt 昀椀le an incident report
Safety Committee
be translated to process and production improveon all incidents, big or small.
T
24 THE TEXAS SURVEYOR May 2025
