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According to OSHA’s guidance document an incident investigation should only be considered complete if corrective actions and preventative actions (CAPA) are implemented that address the root causes of incidents. The corrective actions must improve a safety program and be supported by senior management.

OSHA’s “Incident [Accident] Investigations: A Guide for Employers” document helps organizations implement an incident investigation system composed of the following four steps:

1) Preserve/document the scene
2) Collect information
3) Determine root causes
4) Implement corrective actions

CAPA may be of limited value if they don’t address the root causes of the incident. Throughout the workplace, the findings and how they are presented will shape perceptions and subsequent corrective actions. In planning and implementing CAPA, employers may find that some root causes will take time and perseverance to fix, OSHA says. However, persisting in implementing substantive CAPA not only reduces the risk of future incidents but also improves a company’s safety, morale and bottom line.

 

Global CAPA to Consider

Specific corrective actions address root causes directly. But some corrective actions can be general, across‐the‐board improvements to the workplace safety environment, OSHA says. The guidance document provides the following examples of global corrective actions:

  • Strengthening/developing a written comprehensive safety and health management program
  • Revising safety policies to clearly establish responsibility and accountability
  • Revising purchasing and/or contracting policies to include safety considerations
  • Changing safety inspection process to include line employees along with management representatives

 

Finally, consider the use of Incident Management Software to manage effectively corrective and preventive action (CAPA) plans triggered by incident investigations. Incident Management Software can act as a central task management system that schedules and deploys actions, checks progress, alerts team members and makes sure that actions are completed on time.

IMEC Technologies provides Safety Management Software to increase worker safety and aid compliance. IMEC’s Safety Management Software will manage inspections and audits, provides hazard identificationincident reporting, management of corrective and preventative actions from generation to closure. IMEC provides lock out tag out software solutions that will allow users to create lockout tagout procedures using an intuitive Mobile App and Manage Lockout Tagout Procedures, also the Review and Execution of those Lockout Tagout Procedures using the Mobile App. Annual Lockout Tagout Procedures audits are conducted using a Mobile App. The Mobile Inspection App allow users to perform inspections and audits, for example the system can be used as a Fire Extinguisher Barcode Inspection Software system to manage monthly fire extinguisher inspections and general fire safety inspections and also to record safety observations and manage corrective actions, anywhere and anytime. The solution can be used as a fire extinguisher barcode inspection software system or life safety inspection system to aid compliance in Higher Education, Healthcare, Industrial and Commercial Organizations. Benefits from a Fire Extinguisher Barcode System include the elimination of paperwork and reducing the burden of compliance with regulations such as NFPA, The Joint Commission. The Incident Reporting App allows users to easily and quickly report incidents, hazards and near-misses, these are then sent to the appropriate people for action and are managed to closure.  Web Apps provide features such as, setup, management, scheduling tools, analysis, reporting and dashboards etc with the ability to report incidents to government bodies such as OSHA and RIDDORHazMat T&T is a hazardous waste management software solution designed for Environmental Service Companies and companies who generate a large quantity of hazardous waste. The solution tracks hazardous waste from cradle to grave aiding compliance, providing accurate waste inventory, increasing waste handling efficiency, reducing risk and also helps manage waste costs. HazMat T&T Hazardous Waste Management Software can be deployed in a number of deployment scenarios, from Large Hazardous Waste Generators, tracking their hazardous waste at their site to Environmental Service and Waste Management Companies using it track and manage hazardous waste at transfer and disposal sites. For more information visit our website www.imectechnologies.com