Initial Site InvestigationLesson 7

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Initial Site InvestigationInitial Site Investigation

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Initial Site InvestigationLesson 7 Objectives

Understand the significance of the initial site investigation.

Prepare the team with the necessary equipment and information for a safe and successful site survey.

Conduct the initial survey and determine how it should be approached by the team.

Control the accident site to help ensure that evidence is not disturbed so it can be collected and documented correctly.

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Initial Site Investigation

before we get started. . . What do you expect to get from it? What should you be aware of? What should you be cautious about? Who should enter the site? How important is the visit?

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Successful Visit

First Priority: First Priority: Prevent further loss of Prevent further loss of life, injury, or property life, injury, or property loss. (This includes loss. (This includes you!)you!) 55

Site Controls

The accident site must be secured and safety hazards identified or mitigated prior to entering or visiting the site.

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Site Controls

Contact agency or local law enforcement to ensure that any available preliminary

investigation information and/or special interest in the incident are known.

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Initial Site Investigation

Any site security procedures that had been established prior to the SAIT arrival

should be understood and the Team Leader should coordinate with the Agency Administrator for continued site security

as necessary.

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Site Controls

The entire accident site needs to be controlled and the evidence protected

until it is released back to the unit by the Chief Investigator.

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Site Controls Contact agency or local law enforcement to

ensure that any available preliminary investigation information and/or special interest in the incident are known.

If there is evidence that may be easily disturbed the chief investigator and team leader should consider controlling access.

Controlling the accident site. People not assigned to the SAIT or not invited to the site should be prohibited from entering by the Chief Investigator.

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Initial Site InvestigationInitial Site Investigation

Let’s look at handout 7-1, the

Initial Site Investigation Checklist

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Approaching the Accident Site

Prepare equipment and people Use the Checklist we just reviewed!

Approached the site as the workers did

STOP. . .and view the entire scene

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Initial Site InvestigationInitial Site InvestigationAt the Site

Approach the site slowly and deliberately

Get an overall look at the accident area before more evidence is disturbed. Landscape features, shadows, roadways, space allocation, type/location of

equipment and people, etc., should all be looked at from a distance to help establish the overall complexity of the scene or workplace.

Try to get the overall picture of what was going on

Established the flow and main task of the work. Establish where the impact or contact that caused the injury or damage

occurred. Start to think about what evidence you want to gather first. If there is evidence that may be easily disturbed, only the chief investigator

and team leader should enter the area.

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Initial Site InvestigationInitial Site InvestigationAt the Site

Attempt to establish the conditions at the time of the accident. It’s helpful to review the accident site at the same

time of day that the accident happened. Take into consideration the weather or other

environmental conditions that may have been in play at the time of the accident.

The extent of the accident site. The physical dimensions should be established

and the boundaries identified and marked if necessary.

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Initial Site InvestigationInitial Site InvestigationAt the Site

The description of the site needs to be prepared very carefully at the site to ensure that it is accurate and well defined:

drawings, photographs, historical records, etc., all may prove useful

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Initial Site Investigation

The Chief Investigator has control of the accident site and the accident site should be approached slowly getting the overall picture of what was going on and what the conditions were at the time of the accident.

The Chief Investigator will establish: Who needs to go to the accident site What main tasks need to be done Order in which tasks should be done Who will do tasks The extent of the site Site security and entry requirements, if any Initial description and mapping of the site Photographs of everything before they are touched Collection of evidence Logging of evidence and photographs- Anything taken from the accident site needs to

be logged in on the evidence log so the chain of custody is established

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Initial Site Investigation Contamination Of The Site

The Chief Investigator should always consider the likelihood that the site has been disturbed when considering the position of evidence.

If the site has been disturbed, witnesses should be used to determine how the site looked at the time of the incident or how it typically looks during a similar operation.

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Initial Site InvestigationReality Check

Are you or your team members ever going to be the first ones at the scene?

Was the scene secured before you arrived?

Have things been moved?

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Initial Site Investigation

Be prepared Be deliberate Be thorough Be cautious 2121

Questions???

Initial Site Investigation

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Initial Site InvestigationLesson 7 Objectives

Understand the significance of the initial site investigation.

Prepare the team with the necessary equipment and information for a safe and successful site survey.

Conduct the initial survey and determine how it should be approached by the team.

Control the accident site to help ensure that evidence is not disturbed so it can be collected and documented correctly.

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