Citation

Craven AD. J. Occup. Accid. 1981; 3(3): 207-216.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This invited lecture was presented at a symposium at which leading scientists in the U.K. exchanged opinions on the useful evidence which may survive the effects of fires and explosions, thereby leaving clues regarding causation. The author stressed, however, that unique evidence relating to the effects of fires and explosions was also available to the investigator and should be carefully recorded.The main burden of the lecture was, however, the importance of adopting a formal strategy during fire and explosion investigations. The basis of this approach was to collect as much information as possible without disturbing the evidence and to resist giving opinions until all the available information had been considered. A checklist consisting of seven steps to diagnosis was proposed. These related to (1) remit, (2) brief survey, (3) pre-incident facts, (4) examination of damage, (5) eyewitness evidence, (6) cause identification and (7) report.The author made a plea for a better standard in report writing by technical accident investigators. To this end a further checklist was suggested regarding the structure of reports. This was designed to ensure that sections relating to observed facts, eyewitness evidence, author's opinions and deductions were completely separated.Although the symposium was entitled "Accident Investigation" the author took the liberty of including a section on intentional fires and explosions. Unfortunately, the investigating scientist may be faced with objections from people preferring alternative accidental causes which are socially more easily acceptable. To assist in putting these matters into their true perspective, the author suggests a further checklist of common categories of behaviour which may be associated with intentional fires.