A Machine Accident Investigation Kit (MAIK) is available free of charge from Procter Machine Guarding. This fourth edition of the popular resource for managers incorporates a number of changes to bring it up to date following changes in, for example, standards references and website addresses.
Unless you manage your health and safety extremely carefully – or simply have more than your fair share of good luck – minor accidents will inevitably occur from time to time when using machinery. These might result in injuries as inconsequential as grazed knuckles, though it could be much worse.
Machine Accident Investigation Kit
The kit is supplied as a set of Microsoft Word documents that can either be worked through on a PC or printed out and used manually. It includes forms for recording what happened – so that the root cause can be identified – and for taking statements from the injured person as well as any witnesses, supervisors, line managers and others.
Available as a download from the website or on request, the Machine Accident Investigation Kit helps small and medium-sized manufacturing companies to investigate machine-related accidents. Every company should have an Accident Book or other means by which to record accidents, but investigating accidents using a formal procedure helps in establishing exactly what happened and why enabling action to be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. This is good practice in terms of occupational health and safety management, plus companies benefit through fewer workplace accidents, less lost time and, therefore, improved profitability.
The MAIK is aimed primarily at manufacturing companies, but other organisations using machinery could find it equally helpful. The kit is supplied as a single PDF file that includes forms for recording what happened – so that the root cause can be identified – and for taking statements from the injured person as well as witnesses, supervisors, line managers and others.
For those not familiar with accident investigation procedures, the kit also contains guidance notes. In addition, a list of useful resources is provided, including some from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that relate to accidents.
Jeremy Procter, Convenor of the European Standards Committee responsible for Machine Guards and Managing Director of Procter Machine Guarding, states: “Having talked to numerous managers in manufacturing companies where there have been accidents involving machinery, I believe there is a genuine need for this type of Machine Accident Investigation Kit. People do not generally want to alert the health and safety authorities to the fact that they have had an accident; and while they have a desire to do the right thing, they do not know where to turn for help. I sincerely hope that the Machine Accident Investigation Kit will help manufacturing companies perform effective investigations that will result in action being taken to prevent future accidents.”
The Machine Accident Investigation Kit can be downloaded from the Free Machine Safety Guides section of the website or email info@machinesafety.co.uk.