Accidents

Book excerpt: Dr Thornhill's book is a new resource for all Health and Safety professionals, and particularly for those who have responsibility for or who are likely to be involved in accident investigation. Starting with some valuable historical background, the book then provides some psychological tools to answer the question why people behave in ways which they know to be unsafe. There is a full discussion of the advantages of good accident investigation in the third chapter. The central part of the book gives a blow by blow account of the accident investigation procedure and covers everything from the contents of the investigator's tool kit to the eventual cleaning up operation. The essential and sometimes daunting task of interviewing witnesses is then examined, with many practical hints on how to conduct a good interview. In chapter six the author suggests ways of assembling and making sense of the information gained in the investigation process, and then goes on to consider the writing and contents of the accident report. The aim of accident investigation must be to prevent accidents; to save lives and to save money. In the final two chapters of this book Dr Thornhill asks how we can effectively do this by improving the safety culture of an organisation. There is also a very useful check-list for the accident investigator and report writer to use. Dr Thornhill is an international teacher and consultant and writes in a clear and engaging style which makes it ideal for HSE managers at all levels.