Posted By John Bennett I am currently investigating accident whereby a two-way radio fell three floors and struck an individual on the arm. The radio was carried by our on site engineers who were in the process of dealing with a lift entrapment. The engineer placed the radio on the floor and then stepped back kicking the radio off the atrium. Obviously, I highlighted the need for belt clips/holsters and edge protection for the atrium. However, my question is: - The lift in question has broken 11 times in the past fortnight and had the Lift Company repaired the lift correctly then the engineers would not have been performing this task. Would I be correct in stating in my accident investigation that a proportion of blame for this occurrence lies with the Lift Company. Thank you in advance for any advice given. Regards, John

Posted By John Webster The lift engineers may well have been doing a lousy job if the breakdowns were that frequent, but I suggest it has little bearing on the incident. Your view that had the lift not broken down your maintenance man would not have been where he was and would therefore not have had the accident will be familiar to any Brit who has had a road accident in Saudi Arabia (the non-native is always to blame as had he not been in Saudi....etc.). The accident presumably could just as easily have happened the first time the lift broke down. If so, it looks as if your basic precautions/systems/procedures against things falling off the edge of upper floors are at fault, and you should count yourselves lucky that it was somebody's arm and not their head that was struck. John

Posted By Jane Moody John The purpose of an accident investigation is to establish the facts and prevent recurrence, not to attribute blame. If legal action is taken - leave the courts to decide who was to blame. Your record should be impartial.

Posted By Jeremy R. Manderson Paul, Good comment.