This “process” must be in place within any SMS Incident Management Element, including a Process Safety Management System. This process is used for ALL UNPLANNED events, not just EHS-related events.
Although this process appears simple, it can be full of challenges and very error-prone, eroding trust and credibility.
There can be variations in each step of this process. Quite frankly, we need defined variation in each step to keep the process “real.” Too much emphasis on some steps for minor incidents will eventually impact Step 1 – Reporting, just as too little emphasis on serious incidents can have a stifling effect on reporting.
Each step MUST be DEFINED and QUANTIFIED to provide the structure needed to ensure quality results from each process step. For example, we can use $ Loss to quantify the levels of Step 2 and 3. Meaning, based on the $’s lost we will establish the level of Investigation and the required Causal Analysis Methodology.
But when we define and quantify the expectations in each step of this process, we establish the “floor” (minimum expectations); we can always exceed the minimums, but we can NEVER deviate below them.
Personnel participating in these steps need training and skills to be successful in their role(s). EHS may be the leader in Step 2 – Investigations and 3 – Causal Analyses, but they should NOT be the owners of the entire process. Senior Management MUST own Step 4 – CAPs and Step 5- Tracking.
