Accident Causation and Analysis: Analyzing a Serious Fictional Accident

Document Format

Assignment 1 For assignment 1 you are going to analyse the serious fictitional accident described in Module 11 and write up your findings based on a few guiding instructions. This assignemnt is worth 20% of the course grade and is based on your learning from the first six modules in this course. Assignment 1 is due at the end of Week 6 (Friday). Document Format Please keep your document between 8 to 10 pages, maximum 13. Use 12 point font Use 1.5 line spacing Getting Started with Your Assignment Before you get started with the writing, do the following readings: Read the following pages in Module 11: Case Study after you complete the study of modules 1 through 6: Introduction The Safety System The Construction Project The accident Writing Your Document In one to two pages, list and briefly summarize the main legal OH&S requirements in your province that apply to this accident. Include requirements related to both the incident itself (minor focus) and to the accident investigation process (major focus).

Please include specific information on both the requirements related to the accident (i.e. what applicable sections of the Regulation would be relevant to this incident) and information on the accident investigation process for your jurisdiction (i.e. the specific sections of the Regulations which discuss the accident investigation process). In two or three pages, describe the workplace factors that apply to this incident, and explain why they are important and relevant to the accident investigation.

In other words, how will the consideration of these factors help to ensure that the investigation is thourough and accudante?

Refer to Module 3. Please include a general summary of what you feel the applicable factors for this accident are, with a description of how they relate to the accident. For example, you could say that working at night is a factor as it causes issues with visibility/lighting, sleep deprivation, etc. In four to five pages, describe at least three separate accident cuasation approaches and models that might apply to this incident, and why you would choose to use them during this investigation. Refer to Modules 4 through 6. Please ensure that the discussion on the three separate models includes a background on the theory and how it applies to this accident.

Please write a summary of the main points you addressed above INTRODUCTION This case study describes a fictional serious accident that involves several important concepts relating to accident causation and analysis. A safety-conscious company experiences an accident where a worker is killed and several other workers are injured. Co-workers and managers are seriously traumatized and are looking for answers as to how this could have happened. There are several witness accounts within the accident scenario information. It is important to realize that witness accounts often differ, which is dependent upon their interpretation and perceptions of the incident. You need to be prepared to go into action immediately following the accident. You need to know exactly what your prioritized steps will be, whom you will involve, the legal ramifications, and what you expect to achieve with your investigation. You are the health and safety manager for ACME Construction Inc. Fortunately, you have developed excellent relationships with workers, supervisors, and managers. Most people feel that you have integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness in carrying out an effective accident investigation. ACME Construction Inc. generally acts as the prime contractor in large road construction projects. ACME is a unionized company, and they only hire unionized contractors and subcontractors. There are typically 250 to 350 people working on the current project site. Approximately 100 of those people are ACME employees. As with almost all construction projects, time is money-there is enormous pressure to complete projects on time and under budget. The work is also often subject to close public scrutiny because public funds finance most of their projects. Adding to these concerns is the common practice of accepting the lowest bid for each part of the subcontracted work. ACME management is aware of their responsibilities to perform due diligence and also the high cost burdens that result from increased worker’s compensation premiums when there are workplace injuries. They want to ensure good management practices are put into place at every level of the project. This means that projects are managed so that both production and safety goals are achieved. THE SAFETY SYSTEM ACME is a relatively progressive firm, with strong management commitment for health and safety and for the general welfare of employees and contractors. There are still a few holdouts, but most supervisors and employees are also strongly committed to running safe projects. ACME has a formal safety program in place, complete with a manual, training, supervision, inspections, etc. Prior to the project, you asked each contractor for a copy of their safety program manual and all written procedures specific to the work being done on site. Several contractors provided you with their material, but some of the smaller crews didn’t have any formalized procedures. On each project, one of your main goals has been to ensure that everyone is communicating every step of the way. Each crew meets regularly to discuss safety, and there is a weekly general safety meeting with at least one representative from each employer on site. This meeting has proven to be very valuable, since a number of overlapping issues have been discussed and resolved. THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT The Construction Project ACME is hired as the prime contractor on a multiple-employer, major-transportation-infrastructure project. ACME is contracted to build an elevated highway parallel to an existing stretch of highway in the largest city in your province. The current highway is a four-lane expressway, with a very wide boulevard between the opposing traffic lanes. ACME’s project is to build ten kilometres of elevated four-lane highway in between the existing two-lane sections. The project commences in May. The first part of the project involves clearing debris, overburden, and trees along the route to prepare for construction. Next, specialized construction equipment is moved into place and piers are erected to support the highway. Finally, prefabricated, interlocking sections of concrete (beams) are lifted onto the piers and a final road surface is applied to complete the project. To minimize traffic disruption, the work progresses in one-kilometre sections. At no time is the physical length of the project more than one kilometre long. The one-kilometre construction zone is extended in 100-metre increments. As each 100-metre segment is completed, the construction zone is extended a further 100 metres. To support the elevated highway, upright T-shaped piers are erected every 50 metres. These piers are very large and strong, designed to support the weight of the highway and to remain intact during an earthquake. Two types of footings are used to support the piers: spread footings and caissons. Spread footings are used where the ground is relatively solid. This involves removing the loose topsoil and overburden, down to firm soil conditions. Temporary formwork (wood frame that holds the wet concrete until it dries) is constructed, reinforcing steel (rebar) is inserted, and concrete is poured to form a large flat base to support the pier. The dimensions of the spread footing vary according to soil conditions, but on average they are 20 metres by 20 metres by 4 metres thick. The second type of support (caisson) is used where the ground is less stable, where there is a high water table, or where there is poor drainage that contributes to soil instability. This type of support involves drilling into the ground and sinking a steel caisson into the hole. The caisson is a strong hollow tube approximately three metres in diameter and eight metres deep. Rebar is placed into the caisson and concrete is poured, filling the caisson and creating a solid underground anchor. The tops of both styles of footings are backfilled so that the top of the finished grade is even with the top of the footing. The rebar that reinforces the pier column is tied into the rebar that extends above the top of the footing. A prefabricated form is placed around the pier rebar and concrete is poured into the form. This process is repeated to pour the T-shaped top that will support the beams extending between the piers. Once the piers are in place, prefabricated concrete beams are trucked onto the site using specialized trucks and trailers. These beams are purchased from a company that specializes in fabricating this type of product. One beam is used for two lanes; therefore, two beams are placed side by side to get four lanes. The beams are approximately 50 metres long, 2.5 metres thick, and 7 metres wide. They weigh about 75 tonnes. Since these special loads interfere with traffic flow, all movement of beams is done between the hours of 10:00 pm and 5:00 am. Crossing of some intersections requires traffic control. The beams are lifted onto the tops of the piers using a single crane lift. This also interferes with traffic, because lane closures are required during lifts. After the beams are placed and secured, work begins on the top of the beams to create a road surface. The height of the surface of the beams varies between four and ten metres above the grade. Mobile equipment is driven or lifted onto the beams in order to construct the road surface. You can see the various pieces of the construction project, beam details, and rigging arrangements below: THE ACCIDENTThe Accident On June 18, you receive a frantic call at home on your cell phone at 3:00 am from one of the crew supervisors. There has been a serious accident. From the information you receive, it appears that one worker is dead and another two or three may be dead or seriously injured. Emergency services have been notified and are on the way. You immediately drive to the scene and report the accident to your boss, David, the project general manager. According to the information you receive from the site, the accident happened while a crane was lifting one of the beams to the top of the piers. For some unknown reason, the beam fell. One end came free from the rigging, pinning two workers (riggers) who were spotting the lift. Pieces of concrete broke off the pier, bounced and rolled, and hit a traffic control person and a supervisor who were nearby. Besides the three or four injured workers, the crane is damaged, a pick-up truck has been crushed, one of the “Ts” on top of the pier has a large piece missing, and the beam that was being lifted is seriously damaged.