Course: C02 Incident Causation and Investigation

The entire course includes all modules listed on this page
Register today for $500.00

Pricing
Each module: $69.00
Entire course: $500.00 (Includes all Modules)

C02A Types of Investigations

This module equips you to determine what type of investigation is best suited for preventing incidents through a combination of theoretical and applied knowledge. Learners will be able to identify the strengths and limitations of three different types of incident investigation. This module also highlights the contribution that a well-designed incident investigation system can make to a modern HSE management program. 

This module will enable the learner to:

• Learn the definition of “investigate” 

• Learn the reasons incident investigations happen 

• Acquire supplemental information and skills helpful to the high-level investigator 

• Identify the strengths, purpose and limitations of compliance investigations 

• Identify the strengths, purpose and limitations of liability investigations 

• Identify the strengths, purpose and limitations of preventions investigations 

• Determine the role of investigations in modern OSH&E programs 

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C02B Incident Causation Models

As you know, an incident is never a single event. An incident is a chain of events, sometimes quite complex, that leads to a loss or near-loss. Many models have been created to explain and describe incidents. One source estimates that in the last 80+ years (the modern era of incident causation), theorists have published over 50 causation models. In this module we will not be overly concerned with pre-modern incident causation models, as they are unscientific, unverifiable, and not well defined. 

This module will enable the learner to:

• Learn why causation models are important

• Investigate how causation belief affects causation models 

• Evaluate models based on their types, strengths, and weaknesses 

• Survey the two basic, pre-modern causation models and the six major modern models 

• Probe the weaknesses and strengths of the modern models 

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C02C Relationship Between Causation Belief and Organizational Culture

In this module, we will examine the relation between causation belief and organizational culture. Causation belief is the belief system or systems, implicitly or explicitly held (that is, stated or unstated), about why incidents occur in a workplace. People conducting, or primarily involved in incident investigation, should have a clear picture of their causation beliefs and a very clear understanding of the organizational culture in which they work. If you do not understand your own or your organization's culture or causation beliefs, you will not be able to perform the appropriate incident investigation. 

This module will enable the learner to:

• Define causation belief and causation belief diffusion 

• Explain the link between the Internal Responsibility System and incident investigation 

• Describe the effects on causation belief from management, unions, and industry 

• Identify various types of organizational cultures and their characteristics

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C02D Incident Investigation I - Stakeholders, Planning, and Preparation

In this module we will learn about the people and processes involved in creating systems to deal with and investigate incidents before they happen. We will look at the role of OSH&E programmes in general, people who have a stake in incident investigations, and what their roles and effects are, and mechanisms you can put in motion (or use) in case of an incident.

In this module we will:

• Understand the goals of a good OSH programme 

• Learn the uses of planning and preparation 

• Discover how planning and preparation work, both technically and theoretically 

• Examine various facets of planning and preparation, including written plans, emergency response planning, and emergency communication

• Discuss various facets of emergency communications, inside and outside organizations 

• Study the impact of legal requirements on incident planning

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C02E Incident Investigation II - Collecting Data, Testimony and Interviewing, and Incident Reconstruction

In order to do an incident investigation, and arrive at some kind of workable solution, you need to know how to get your information and what to do with it once you’ve got it. In this module, we will be looking at practical and theoretical methods of doing investigation (both fact-finding and research), and ways of modeling that information once you have collected it. (Some of the material in the section entitled "Incident Reconstruction" relates directly to the models presented in Module 2, and will be continued in greater detail in Module 6.) Using this framework as a guideline, you should now have a grasp on the fundamental practical and academic tools for incident investigation. 

After completing this module, you will:

• Understand data collection and research methods, including onsite and testimonial methods 

• Distinguish the importance of the various methodologies to incident investigation 

• Recognize bias and learn how to prevent it 

• Know which practical tools to use when conducting incident investigations 

• Develop introductory level research skills 

• Understand the importance of incident reconstruction, and how it ties in with other course materials

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C02F Incident Analysis

In this module we will look at some of the theories behind incident analysis, examine some of the tools for conducting an analysis, and step through some of the essential elements for developing an organizational structure for conducting an incident analysis. 
The focus of this module is to examine the fact-finding and developing methods of analyzing the data. In Module 7 we will look at report writing skills, then in Module 8 we will bring everything together, showing how the final report links to organizational values. These last four modules basically lead you through the progressive stages of conducting an incident investigation. 

In this module, you will:

• Comprehend how classifications and models for incidents interrelate 

• Study the basic principles and steps of incident analysis 

• Review and evaluate various tools for incident analysis 

• Understand the basics of physical and temporal analysis

• Review risk assessment, perception, analysis, management 

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C02G Developing Recommendations

This course provides learners with the analytical and practical knowledge they need to perform successful incident investigations. One of the most important things about incident investigations is informing others of your findings and recommendations, which is where investigation reporting comes in. 
To be truly effective, a report should start with organized information, follow a logical sequence of clear analysis, and finish with reasoned conclusions and solid, factual (and feasible) recommendations. In this module, you will gain the skills and understanding necessary to produce high-quality incident reporting.

This module will enable the learner to:

• Explore different ways of organizing information 

• Comprehend the proper structure of a formal report, and how to integrate its various elements 

• Define interdisciplinary communication, and discover its main techniques 

• Identify useful tools for structuring reports and communicating information 

• Review writing fundamentals, process, and language mechanics 

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C02H Linking Investigation to Organizational Values

In this module, we will link the prior topics of this course and compare modern, systems-based approaches with older, cause-based approaches. We can sum up the difference by labeling the former "Quality Approaches" and the latter "Heinrich-based Approaches". W. Edwards Deming pioneered and formalized the methodology that created Quality Approaches to safety, and Heinrich did the seminal work on cause-based safety. This module will basically differentiate, compare, and contrast the two methods over a variety of theoretical and practical areas of safety. 

In this module you will learn:

• Distinguish Quality Approaches from Heinrich-based Approaches, and Heinrich’s legacy in safety theory and practice 
• To compare, contrast and evaluate systems-based and causal-based approaches to safety preventability theories 
• Identify relationships between safety theories, safety practice, risk assessment, and risk perception (illustrated by case studies on airlines and the Westray Mine Disaster) 
• List basic principles and effects of good safety management 
• Identify the rudiments of how to set up a safety programme 
• Identify how organizational values and ethics impact safety and safety programmes within organizations

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