Who..What..Where..When..and How!
- Who is getting hurt. Is someone getting hurt over and over, and is it the same kind of injury
- What actually caused the injuries. This question looks for the basic cause of the physical trauma to the body. This might be best answered determining trends in the following accident types:
- Struck by. A person is forcefully struck by an object. The force of the Contact is provided by the object. Example: Struck by a falling object.
- Struck against. A person forcefully strikes an object. The person provides the force or energy. Example: Running up against a wall.
- Fall from elevation. A person slips or trips and falls to a level below the one he or she was walking or standing on. Example: Fall over edge while shingling roof.
- Fall to surface. A person slips or trips and falls to the surface he or she is working or standing on. Example: fall due to slippery floor.
- Contact with. A person Contacts a harmful substance or material. The person initiates the Contact. Example: Contacting electricity.
- Contact by. Contact by a substance or material that, by its very nature, is harmful and causes injury or illness. Example: Acid splashes on a person's face.
- Caught on. A person is somehow caught on a object that is either moving or stationary. This may cause the person to lose his or her balance and fall, be pulled into a machine, or suffer other harm. Example: A Person is dragged into a machine because loose clothing is caught on a conveyor belt.
- Caught in. A person is trapped or otherwise caught in an opening or enclosure. Example: A person's arm is stuck in a printing machine when it starts up and causes injury.
- Caught between. A person is crushed, pinched, or otherwise caught between a moving and a stationary object, or between two moving objects. Example: Person is crushed between moving crane and wall.
- Bodily reaction. Caused solely from stress imposed by free movement of the body or assumption of a standard or unnatural body position. Example: Person bends over to plug in a tool and strains back.
- Over-exertion. A person over-extends or strains beyond ability to lift, lower, push, pull an object. Example: Person strains back while lifting a box.
- Over-exposure. Over a period of time, a person is exposed to harmful energy, such as noise, heat, toxic chemicals, or hazardous atmospheres. Example: Person looses consciousness due to lack of oxygen.
- Where are workers getting hurt? Are they doing their regular job, or are they working for another department when they get hurt? Are workers getting injured more in certain department or areas of the workplace, or in particular facility locations?
- When are workers getting hurt? Look for trends in:
- A particular time of the day. Early or late in the work shift?
- A particular day of the week. Mondays? Fridays?
- A particular week of the month. Just before payday? Last production week?
- A particular month of the year. December?
- A particular quarter of the year. Last fiscal quarter?
- A particular season of the year. Just before hunting season?
- A particular business cycle. Just before annual report?
- How was the worker injured? This question is directed toward hazardous conditions and unsafe work practices. Were hazardous materials, tools, equipment, being used? What was the worker not using: personal protective equipment? Are work shifts too long? Were workers using unsafe practices. Are workers getting hurt as a result of factors within or outside of work: factors the employer controls, or can't control?