In the event of an accident, a first-hand account of what happened can be invaluable. To obtain the information you need, take a witness statement.
In the event of an accident, having all the facts to hand will help you to identify exactly what went wrong and what’s required to prevent a recurrence. In addition, if you can present a professional case to an inspector, you will reduce the likelihood of enforcement action being taken.
Although it may appear to be a pointless exercise collecting witness statements in the event of a relatively minor incident, the extent of the injury may not reflect what could have happened. For example, the injured party may have only suffered a minor cut, but if they had left their hand in place for a few seconds more, it could have resulted in an amputation.
We suggest you get in the habit of completing an Accident - Witness Statement whenever there’s an incident. Doing so could unearth vital information that helps you develop new safe systems of work, thereby reducing the likelihood of a recurrence with a more serious outcome. Ask those completing the witness statement to provide as many detailed facts about the incident as possible.