Facility Safety (Formerly Corporate Safety Assurance)

Accident Investigation Program

A primary mission of the Department of Energy (DOE) is to operate its programs and facilities with a high level of safety. The accident investigation process has been designed to meet Departmental safety objectives by responding to accidents in a highly coordinated, timely, and focused manner. Preventing accidents and reducing lost time and fatalities due to accidents are line management responsibilities. However, the accident investigation program provides useful and timely information to managers within the DOE complex in an efficient manner so they can use the information to improve their programs.

The objectives of the accident investigation program are to prescribe requirements for conducting investigations that will assist line management in meeting its responsibilities to:

• contribute to improved environmental protection and enhanced safety and health of Department of Energy employees, contractors, and the public;
• prevent the recurrence of accidents; and
• reduce accident fatality rates and promote a downward trend in the number and severity of accidents.

To accomplish these objectives, the accident investigation process must respond with speed, accuracy, focus, and brevity. The results of accident investigations can help managers eliminate underlying causes and prevent similar accidents. To achieve maximum benefit, accident investigations need to be convened rapidly, staffed and supported adequately, focused on pertinent and essential facts and causal factors, conducted accurately and thoroughly, concluded quickly, and reported clearly and concisely. Analytical techniques used to draw conclusions and to establish causes must be valid, appropriate, and easy to use. Finally, sound judgments of need should be developed to promote better safety practices, address systemic problems, and, when implemented, help prevent future occurrences.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Facility Safety has prepared a DOE Workbook entitled Conducting Accident Investigations as part of a continuing effort to enhance the quality and consistency of oversight activities. The workbook describes the process and principal activities for conducting accident investigations, in accordance with DOE Order 225.1A, Accident Investigations, and its accompanying Implementation Guide. DOE Order 225.1A establishes requirements and responsibilities for the Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety and Health, Secretarial Officers, heads of field elements, accident investigation boards, and Department of Energy contractors, who must collectively implement the accident investigation program. All of these documents are included on the home page:

	DOE Order 225.1A, Accident Investigations
	Implementation Guide for Use with DOE Order 225.1A, Accident Investigations
	DOE Workbook, Conducting Accident Investigations HTML, PDF
	Accident Investigation Day Planner: A Guide for Accident Investigation Board Chairpersons
	Administrative Coordinator and Editor Guide
	Type A Accident Investigations
	Type B Accident Investigations
	Request an Account to Access Accident Investigations
	Resource Listing Questionnaire

For information regarding the program, staff can be contacted as follows:

Robert Crowley
Accident Investigation Program Manager
U. S. Department of Energy
Office of Corporate Safety Programs
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20585
Telephone: 202-586-5486
E-mail: Robert Crowley