05-17-05 -- OSHA Issues New Directive for Fatality-Catastrophe Investigations
The U.S Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has posted new guidance for officials who conduct fatality and catastrophe investigations. Instruction directive CPL 02-00-137, Fatality/Catastrophe Investigation Procedures, cancels previous instruction CPL 02-00-113, issued in March 2003.OSHA defines a catastrophe as a work-related incident or exposure that results in the hospitalization of three or more employees. “Fatality investigations are frequently complex because OSHA personnel typically must examine past events to determine weather violations occurred,” the directive states. “Moreover, the potentially criminal nature of violations resulting in the death of an employee necessitates that investigations surrounding such incidents be complete and thoroughly documented.”
The directive cautions officials to be tactful with those who are affected during the investigation and in subsequent communications. “To the extent practical, only trained and experienced CSHO’s will be assigned to investigate such incidents.”
The instruction directive emphasizes the importance of fatality/catastrophe investigations because of their value in building a database that can be useful in preventing future fatalities and catastrophes. Among other things, instruction CPL 02-00-137:
- Defines specific witness interview procedures.
- Provides information on recording fatality-related data and tracking fatality/catastrophe investigations.
- Adds provisions regarding fatality/catastrophe investigations and the relationship between such investigations and other OSHA programs and activities.
- Addresses areas where there are questions about OSHA’s jurisdiction.
To read the full text of OSHA’s new instruction directive, go to http://www.osha.gov. On the right side under Laws and Regulations, click on the “Directives” link. In the Text Search box, type in the directive number “CPL 02-00-137” and click on search. The document will appear on screen.
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Occupational Safety and Health Administration