Accident Investigation Principles Flashcards
7 cards from real COSS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Accident Investigation Principles flashcards as text
Which analysis technique uses a tree diagram to trace the logical combination of events and conditions that led to an accident?
Answer: Fault tree analysis
Fault tree analysis (FTA) uses a top-down tree diagram to map the logical combinations of failures, errors, and conditions that can result in an accident.
When should the accident scene be altered or cleaned up after a serious workplace injury?
Answer: Only after OSHA has been notified and, if required, granted permission
For fatalities and hospitalizations, OSHA regulations require employers to notify OSHA and generally preserve the scene until OSHA inspects or grants permission to proceed.
Which of the following BEST describes a 'proximate cause' in accident investigation?
Answer: The immediate event or condition that directly produced the injury
The proximate (or direct) cause is the immediate event or condition that directly resulted in the accident or injury.
A safety investigator reviews maintenance records, training logs, and inspection reports during an accident investigation. This phase is best described as:
Answer: Document review and records analysis
Reviewing maintenance records, training logs, and inspection reports is a document review and records analysis phase that helps identify management system failures.
What is the primary purpose of re-enacting or reconstructing an accident during an investigation?
Answer: To verify witness accounts and identify physical cause factors
Accident reconstruction helps investigators verify witness statements and identify physical and environmental factors that contributed to the event.
Which interview technique is most effective when questioning an accident witness who appears reluctant to share information?
Answer: Building rapport and using open-ended, non-threatening questions
Building rapport and using open-ended, non-threatening questions encourages reluctant witnesses to share information without fear of blame.
In the context of accident investigation, a 'near miss' is significant because it:
Answer: Represents a free lesson that reveals system weaknesses before harm results
Near misses are valuable because they expose hazards and system failures that, if corrected, can prevent future accidents before injury or death occurs.