+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| #                                                                     |
|                                                                       |
| **Participants Manual**                                               |
|                                                                       |
| # SERIOUS ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COURSE                               |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **LESSON 8: Evidence Gathering and Documentation**                    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **INSTRUCTOR:**                                                       |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Objectives:**                                                       |
|                                                                       |
| **After completing this lesson the participants will be able to:**    |
|                                                                       |
| -   **Describe the two reasons for collecting evidence.**             |
|                                                                       |
| -   **Understand the three types of evidence (human, material, and    |
|     environmental).**                                                 |
|                                                                       |
| -   **Document the accident site and site evidence using sketches,    |
|     drawings, diagrams, maps, photos, and video.**                    |
|                                                                       |
| -   **Prepare a witness list, gather witness statements and conduct   |
|     witness interviews.**                                             |
|                                                                       |
| -   **Identify and collect organizational records pertaining to the   |
|     accident.**                                                       |
|                                                                       |
| -   **Properly preserve, handle, catalog, and secure evidence.**      |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

+--------------------------------------------+-------------------------+
| **Unit Title: Evidence Gathering and       |                         |
| Documentation**                            |                         |
+============================================+=========================+
| **Lesson 8:**                              | **Notes**               |
+--------------------------------------------+-------------------------+
| **IMPORTANCE OF COLLECTING & CATOLOGING    |                         |
| ALL EVIDENCE**                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| The **first** is to establish the accident |                         |
| sequence.                                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| > This includes:                           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Events occurring before, during, and   |                         |
|     after the accident.                    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| The **second** is to identify factors      |                         |
| directly related to the accident sequence. |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Evidence collection provides the factual   |                         |
| evidence needed to establish and support   |                         |
| your findings.                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Evidence is also used during team          |                         |
| deliberations to establish the sequence of |                         |
| events and finally to establish findings   |                         |
| and causes.                                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVIDENCE**            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| There are three principle types of         |                         |
| evidence :                                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Human                                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Material (Materiel)                    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Environmental                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Once all evidence is gathered it will be   |                         |
| categorized into these three types.        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **HUMAN FACTORS**                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Human factors are also considered Human    |                         |
| evidence. Some statistics show that 20     |                         |
| percent of accident causal factors are     |                         |
| material, while 80% are human factors. For |                         |
| additional information on Human Factors    |                         |
| Analysis and Classification System please  |                         |
| review SAIT Resource Documents a report    |                         |
| presented by Scott A Shappell and Douglas  |                         |
| A. Wiegman.                                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Handout 8-2 Human Factors Checklist can be |                         |
| utilized to identify and analyze human     |                         |
| factors associated with the accident.      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **HUMAN EVIDENCE**                         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Human evidence includes such things such |                         |
| as:**                                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Autopsy/Toxicological reports          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Training Records                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Employment Records                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Policies                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Regulations                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Briefings                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Test Results                           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Medical Records                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Work Assignments                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Risk Assessments/Job Hazard Analysis   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Qualifications or certifications (red  |                         |
|     card, CDL, etc)                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Time & Attendance Records              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Fire Management Plans                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Fire Behavior Analysis                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Memorandums of Understanding (MOU's)   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Press Releases                         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   911 logs                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Dispatch logs                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Witness statements                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **MATERIAL EVIDENCE**                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Includes such things as:                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Damaged parts                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Inspection records                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Repair records                         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Tear down analysis of equipment        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Maintenance records                    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Equipment performance tests            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Equipment specifications and drawings  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Independent laboratory testing and     |                         |
|     analysis                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC MATERIAL EVIDENCE** |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Here are some examples of specific         |                         |
| material evidence:                         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Equipment, parts, and structures       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Manufacturer's operating instructions  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Equipment inspections                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Condition reports and operation logs   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Repair reports (documenting previous   |                         |
|     equipment failures)                    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Building blueprints                    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Facility layout diagrams               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Engineering orders                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Construction project files             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Equipment installation manuals         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Parts lists                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Maintenance schedules                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Maintenance procedures                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Contract provisions                    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Fabrication and design records         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Manufacturer's warranties              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Material consensus standards (ANSI,    |                         |
|     ATSM)                                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Material safety data sheets            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Equipment**                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Equipment evidence includes the tools,     |                         |
| machinery, or vehicles that employees      |                         |
| utilized to perform job tasks.             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| A number of accidents are the result of    |                         |
| improper use of equipment:                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   not using it as designed by the        |                         |
|     manufacturer,                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   confusing designs or layouts,          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   improper maintenance,                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   manufacturing design flaws,            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Defeated guards or abuse of equipment. |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Systems**                                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Determine what systems were involved in    |                         |
| the accident and it's suitability to       |                         |
| perform the work project or activity.      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Include any pertinent:                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   maintenance,                           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   inspections,                           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| And approvals of maintenance personnel.    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Survivability**                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Evaluate the ability and suitability of    |                         |
| the vehicle/system/equipment to perform    |                         |
| the work project or activity and occupant  |                         |
| compartment(s) structural integrity.       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Examples include:                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Impact conditions and crash (dynamic)  |                         |
|     forces.                                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Restraint and roll over protection     |                         |
|     systems (used/non-used,                |                         |
|     equipped/non-equipped, seatbelts       |                         |
|     used/not used).                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Personal protective clothing and       |                         |
|     equipment.                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Backup and emergency systems safety    |                         |
|     design.                                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Position of all dials and gages**        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Note position of operating controls such   |                         |
| as:                                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   the gear shifter                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   parking brake lift/tilt controls       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Laboratory/tear down analysis**          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Special studies or tests may be needed to  |                         |
| determine the cause of the failure.        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| These tests are usually conducted by       |                         |
| another agency or private laboratory to    |                         |
| ensure impartiality.                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Review the results of equipment component  |                         |
| analysis if conducted.                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE**                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Environmental evidence includes such       |                         |
| things as:                                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Weather reports                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Meteorological analysis                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Weather damage analysis, such as:      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
|     -   lightning strike points            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
|     -   wind damage                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Terrain analysis                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Altitude                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Environmental hazards i.e.;            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| ```{=html}                                 |                         |
| <!-- -->                                   |                         |
| ```                                        |                         |
| -   smoke                                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   fire                                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   asbestos                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   radiation                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| ```{=html}                                 |                         |
| <!-- -->                                   |                         |
| ```                                        |                         |
| -   River volume & speed                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Surface slip resistance                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Noise levels                           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **RECONSTRUCTION**                         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Reconstruction of a serious accident is    |                         |
| generally not recommended because of:      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Complexities and potential theoretical |                         |
|     errors.                                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Complexities of recreating the         |                         |
|     hazards.                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **IF RECONSTRUCTION IS NECESSARY:**        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Consider using professional accident   |                         |
|     investigation/engineering firm versed  |                         |
|     in accident reconstruction. Involve    |                         |
|     them early in the investigation before |                         |
|     critical evidence can degrade.         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **SKETCHES, DRAWINGS, AND DIAGRAMS**       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| The main purpose of sketches, drawings,    |                         |
| diagrams, maps, photos and video is to aid |                         |
| the investigation team to :                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Understand what conditions may have    |                         |
|     existed at the time of the accident.   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Reconstruct circumstances leading to   |                         |
|     the accident.                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Initial development of hand drawn          |                         |
| documentation begins very soon after the   |                         |
| Agency Administrator's Briefing.           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Accuracy is critical, as hand drawn        |                         |
| documentation will be used for many        |                         |
| purposes after leaving the accident site;  |                         |
| this demands thoughtful and deliberate     |                         |
| planning.                                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Remember to identify and document which    |                         |
| personal items have already left the       |                         |
| accident scene by victims or emergency     |                         |
| response personnel.                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Initial sketches, drawings, and          |                         |
| diagrams**                                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| > The first sketch, drawings, and diagrams |                         |
| > are rough and shows the general area     |                         |
| > encompassing:                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Accident site                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Debris field and wreckage distribution |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Location of identifiable structures,   |                         |
|     landmarks, terrain features            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   General orientation to magnetic north  |                         |
|     arrow                                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Approximate distances by estimation    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Extent of accident site**                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Determine the extent of the accident site. |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   This first on-site action is done from |                         |
|     a distance.                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Note spatial and geographic            |                         |
|     "benchmarks".                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Benchmarks establish common points of  |                         |
|     reference e.g., a large boulder to the |                         |
|     left of the accident site to help give |                         |
|     the perspective of the accident.       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Orientation of evidence**                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Sketch, draw, or diagram accident site on  |                         |
| grid paper. Provide a "symbols/reference   |                         |
| key".                                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| The sketch, drawings, or diagram should    |                         |
| show orientation of evidence to:           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Orient the team to where more precise  |                         |
|     measurements may be taken.             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Identify where photographs will be     |                         |
|     taken.                                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Identify hazardous areas, areas of     |                         |
|     forensic evidence.                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Identify location of victims, equipment    |                         |
| (including position), skid marks, debris   |                         |
| field, damaged foliage, damaged surfaces   |                         |
| or structures, spills, contaminated areas. |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| For equipment related accidents locate and |                         |
| document all components and parts (e.g.    |                         |
| engine pieces, vehicle body parts,         |                         |
| fuselage, etc.)                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Orientation of evidence (continued)**    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Use numbered notations, e.g., "(Victim 01) |                         |
| indicates the location of the first        |                         |
| victim.                                    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Recommend a team member be assigned as a   |                         |
| recorder to take notes for the Chief       |                         |
| Investigator.                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Sketch maps on grid paper, guided by the   |                         |
| first sketch map and measurements.         |                         |
| Recorder adds a "map symbols key"          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Establish a baseline**                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| > All measurements will be based from a    |                         |
| > point along the baseline.                |                         |
| >                                          |                         |
| > Baselines need to be fixed and           |                         |
| > unchangeable if follow-up sites visits   |                         |
| > are necessary.                           |                         |
| >                                          |                         |
| > Roads, sidewalks, exterior building      |                         |
| > walls, ridges are examples of baselines. |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Identify location**                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Identify all common and proper names of    |                         |
| boundary marks.                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Use as references for interviewing people  |                         |
| not familiar with local terminology.       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **MEASUREMENT & MAPPING**                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Measurements & Mapping occur after         |                         |
| establishing the baseline.                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Determine Measurements that must be    |                         |
|     taken.                                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Provide definitive scope and size of   |                         |
|     the accident site.                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Be careful entering the debris field   |                         |
|     to not disturb evidence locations and  |                         |
|     condition.                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   It is helpful to use a grid pattern    |                         |
|     for a debris field, identifying each   |                         |
|     grid in its x and y axis.              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Key measurements will be the point of      |                         |
| contact, and the distance and angle from   |                         |
| the point of contact where persons or      |                         |
| objects may have been thrown.              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Specific points must be identified and     |                         |
| recorded from the notes.                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| > **Specifically note** those items, which |                         |
| > may reveal important clues and need to   |                         |
| > be removed for protective storage.       |                         |
| >                                          |                         |
| > **Note** items that should be at the     |                         |
| > accident site, but were disturbed or     |                         |
| > removed during the emergency response    |                         |
| > effort, and items missing, e.g.,         |                         |
| > personal protective equipment, or        |                         |
| > equipment parts.                         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **OTHER CRITICAL INFORMATION**             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| > Other critical information needed to     |                         |
| > complete the sketch, diagram or drawing  |                         |
| > include:                                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Environmental or site conditions that  |                         |
|     have changed from the time of the      |                         |
|     accident and time the investigation    |                         |
|     team arrived.                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Perishable evidence no longer present  |                         |
|     (e.g., tracks washed away by weather,  |                         |
|     objects destroyed by fire.             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Equipment that may have been removed.  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **USE OF GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)** |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| GPS is commonly available and a very       |                         |
| useful tool for accident investigations.   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| There are two types of Global Positioning  |                         |
| Systems (GPS):                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   **Navigational**                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   **Engineering**                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| > **Navigational GPS** data and software   |                         |
| > is usable for quick, accurate mapping,   |                         |
| > for spatial locations & gross distances  |                         |
| > between areas of interest. DO NOT rely   |                         |
| > on navigational GPS units to provide     |                         |
| > accurate minute detail.                  |                         |
| >                                          |                         |
| > **Engineering GPS** units used with      |                         |
| > Geographic Information System (GIS)      |                         |
| > programs, e.g. ArcView, will provide     |                         |
| > accurate minute detail, as well as, data |                         |
| > documentation, and multiple mapping      |                         |
| > opportunities to more accurately display |                         |
| > the accident scene and occurrences.      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **PHOTOGRAPHS GENERAL INFORMATION**        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Cameras provide a versatile medium for the |                         |
| investigator to document scenes.           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| We are now going to go over some general   |                         |
| information for photographs.               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Still photographs are more versatile   |                         |
|     for enlarging, multiple printing, and  |                         |
|     using as illustrations in the factual  |                         |
|     report.                                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Law Enforcement may have pictures of   |                         |
|     the undisturbed scene.                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   The news media may have videos of the  |                         |
|     accident scene, and available.         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Digital cameras with at least 5 mega   |                         |
|     pixels will work very well for         |                         |
|     investigations. They provide good      |                         |
|     quality pictures that are easy to      |                         |
|     incorporate into a report and pictures |                         |
|     are easily storable on a removable     |                         |
|     disc. Also, pictures can be produced   |                         |
|     (printed) without using a commercial   |                         |
|     film processor. (Include extra         |                         |
|     batteries or charging unit, and a      |                         |
|     minimum of 1G memory card).            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   35 mm cameras can produce very good    |                         |
|     quality pictures and can be stored on  |                         |
|     CD's, however the film must be         |                         |
|     developed commercially.                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Cell phones that have the capability   |                         |
|     to take pictures should not used as    |                         |
|     the primary camera for an              |                         |
|     investigation. The mega pixels are     |                         |
|     generally low resulting in poor        |                         |
|     quality pictures. (Be aware that       |                         |
|     witnesses may have cell phone photos   |                         |
|     of the accident).                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Depending on accident complexities,    |                         |
|     the Chief Investigator may determine   |                         |
|     that a professional photographer is    |                         |
|     needed.                                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **OBTAINING PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE**        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Photograph the accident scene working from |                         |
| the outside in. **However; note that you   |                         |
| must capture photos of perishable evidence |                         |
| promptly**. These are photographs of items |                         |
| that are likely to change or disappear if  |                         |
| not photographed immediately. For example: |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Accident aftermath or rescue in        |                         |
|     progress.                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Victim(s) position, gauge readings,    |                         |
|     ground scars, radio setting, fire      |                         |
|     damage, body fluids/parts, items that  |                         |
|     may switch positions.                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Types of photography**                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Aerial View]{.underline}**: photographs |                         |
| from aerial platform or high ground that   |                         |
| affords a high angle photograph.           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   When using an aircraft be certain to   |                         |
|     receive an approved aviation plan from |                         |
|     the Unit Aviation Officer.             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   The photographer needs a safety        |                         |
|     harness if taking photographs from an  |                         |
|     open door.                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Try to get aerial photos early before  |                         |
|     investigators move through it.         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Do not let helicopter rotor wash       |                         |
|     disturb the site.                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Important locations on the ground can  |                         |
|     be marked using flagging or other      |                         |
|     suitable material.                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Photograph multiple angles and         |                         |
|     distances above the ground.            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Types of photography (continued)**       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Ground View]{.underline}:** photographs |                         |
| of over view of the scene.                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Photograph the site from the eight     |                         |
|     points of the compass.                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   If accident scene is spread out try a  |                         |
|     series of overlapping pictures. Be     |                         |
|     certain each picture is taken from the |                         |
|     same spot or distance                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Print edges can be matched to create a |                         |
|     montage (panoramic view).              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
|     -   Establish the terrain gradient     |                         |
|         through photographs.               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Photographs should be taken inside the |                         |
|     grid prior to moving objects.          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Significant Scene                       |                         |
| Elements]{.underline}**:                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Photographs can inventory the site and |                         |
|     document personal protective clothing, |                         |
|     safety equipment, personal effects and |                         |
|     victim's clothing. Item locations can  |                         |
|     be plotted on a scaled map using a     |                         |
|     fixed point of reference.              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Photograph equipment and components.   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Photograph ground scars and skid marks |                         |
|     that will allow future analysis of     |                         |
|     size and depth (with something of      |                         |
|     known size like a pen or ruler or even |                         |
|     your hand).                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Types of photography (continued)**       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Documents]{.underline}**: Use a camera  |                         |
| to copy documents that cannot reasonably   |                         |
| be retained or copied, e.g. licenses,      |                         |
| logbooks, wall maps or charts.             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Witness Views]{.underline}**: It may be |                         |
| important to photograph the "witness view: |                         |
| of the scene. Use a wide-angle lens, or    |                         |
| montage technique of several photographs   |                         |
| to duplicate a wide-angle view.            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Exemplars]{.underline}**: This is a     |                         |
| model or pattern of an actual object. It   |                         |
| it's difficult to distinguish a part from  |                         |
| wreckage, use pictures of an identical     |                         |
| undamaged object for comparison.           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Wildland Fire Photos]{.underline}**: In |                         |
| addition to the above items these are      |                         |
| specific to fire management accidents:     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| There is unique photographic evidence that |                         |
| need to be obtained for wildland fire      |                         |
| related accident investigations. For       |                         |
| example, burn patterns on the landscape    |                         |
| and equipment, performance of PPE, and     |                         |
| evidence of heat intensity.                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Surrounding fuel type and burn         |                         |
|     patterns from the 8 cardinal           |                         |
|     directions.                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Fire origin, containment lines, and    |                         |
|     personal travel routes.                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Entrapment and/or deployment sites     |                         |
|     before, during, and after the          |                         |
|     incident.                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Final resting position of fatally      |                         |
|     injured.                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   New firefighter clothing can be laid   |                         |
|     out to represent firefighter           |                         |
|     positions.                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Types of photography (continued)**       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Wildland Fire Photos                    |                         |
| (continued)]{.underline}**                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   All fire resistant clothing, PPE, line |                         |
|     gear, and tools, Include detailed      |                         |
|     photographs of components showing      |                         |
|     identifying marks, name tags, labels,  |                         |
|     etc.                                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Other equipment that responded to the  |                         |
|     incident.                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Photographic evidence documentation**    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Photographs used in the factual report     |                         |
| must be mounted and captioned.             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Handout 8-3 Accident Photographic        |                         |
| Documentation Form**                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Handout 8-4 Accident Photographic        |                         |
| Evidence Log**                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Each photograph taken will be entered into |                         |
| a log and labeled.                         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Video Photography**                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Video Photography is particularly valuable |                         |
| for showing slope and terrain features     |                         |
| when filmed from aircraft.                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| It can also be helpful in the team         |                         |
| deliberations and any accident review      |                         |
| process.                                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Employees or private citizens may have     |                         |
| video footage of the accident or           |                         |
| aftermath. Original video or copies should |                         |
| be gathered as evidence for the            |                         |
| investigation.                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **WITNESS STATEMENTS/INTERVIEWS**          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Witness List**                           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| It is important for investigators to       |                         |
| identify witnesses, develop a witness      |                         |
| list, and hold interviews as soon as       |                         |
| possible.                                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| During the in-briefing from the Agency     |                         |
| Administrator the Team Leader should have  |                         |
| received:                                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   List of persons who observed or were   |                         |
|     involved in the accident.              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Witness statements taken by local      |                         |
|     unit.                                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Contact information for witnesses.     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Information regarding cooperation of   |                         |
|     witnesses.                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Any changes from initial witness       |                         |
|     statements.                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Information regarding the relationship |                         |
|     of the witness to the victim(s).       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| All of this information can assist you in  |                         |
| establishing the investigation teams       |                         |
| witness list.                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Those taking witness statements need to    |                         |
| inform the witness that the Serious        |                         |
| Accident Investigation Team that the       |                         |
| intended use of their statements is for    |                         |
| accident prevention purposes. An assurance |                         |
| of confidentiality cannot be given.        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Handout 8-5 Witness Statement can be used  |                         |
| to serve as a template to document the     |                         |
| witness's statement.                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **WITNESS STATEMENTS/INTERVIEWS            |                         |
| (continued)**                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| To increase accuracy while obtaining       |                         |
| statements, witnesses should be separated  |                         |
| from each other while making their         |                         |
| individual statements.                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Witness statements and                     |                         |
| interview/conversation records are not to  |                         |
| be construed as formal written             |                         |
| dispositions.                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Note: Some individuals are not very      |                         |
| descriptive in their writing and the team  |                         |
| may not gain a lot of information based    |                         |
| solely on their statements. A follow-up    |                         |
| interview may reveal additional            |                         |
| information.**                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| There may be instances where witnesses are |                         |
| only available for a short period of time  |                         |
| to the SAI team and the witness statement  |                         |
| is the only opportunity to obtain witness  |                         |
| information. Immediate action may be       |                         |
| necessary to get witness statements in     |                         |
| these situations.                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **WITNESS INTERVIEWS**                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Before conducting team witness interviews  |                         |
| consider the following:                    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Witness may be distraught or           |                         |
|     unavailable due to funeral/memorial    |                         |
|     services.                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   A critical incident stress debriefing  |                         |
|     may have taken place.                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Relationships the witnesses to the     |                         |
|     victim(s) or the accident.             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Witnesses may be on medication or may  |                         |
|     be hospitalized and the team my need   |                         |
|     the approval of a physician or family  |                         |
|     members to conduct an interview.       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   No witness can be compelled to be      |                         |
|     interviewed.                           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **WITNESS INTERVIEWS**                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **(continued)**                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Review witness list and statements to      |                         |
| determine which witnesses will need to be  |                         |
| interviewed. This will also assist in      |                         |
| developing specific interview questions.   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| The local Point of Contact/Management      |                         |
| Liaison may be able to assist the team in  |                         |
| locating and scheduling witnesses for      |                         |
| interviews.                                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Critical Incident Stress Debriefing**    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| It is best to interview witnesses before   |                         |
| any Critical Incident Stress Debriefing.   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| However, should the events of an accident  |                         |
| cause severe psychological burden on a     |                         |
| witness; it may be necessary to secure the |                         |
| services of a Critical Incident Stress     |                         |
| Debriefing counselor before interviews are |                         |
| completed. Always try to get a statement   |                         |
| from the witness prior to any CISD if you  |                         |
| cannot interview them first.               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| If you observe signs of employees being    |                         |
| affected by Critical Incident Stress       |                         |
| during interviews have the Team Leader     |                         |
| recommend to the Agency Administrator      |                         |
| contact the local Employee Assistance      |                         |
| Program Coordinator and arrange for        |                         |
| counseling as needed.                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEWS**              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| The Chief Investigator should coordinate   |                         |
| the preparation of the questions for       |                         |
| witness interviews, but may not            |                         |
| necessarily be the interviewer in all      |                         |
| investigations.                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Interview duties can be assigned to    |                         |
|     other Investigation Team members.      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Interviews need to be taken in a       |                         |
|     quiet, private, comfortable, safe      |                         |
|     location that is free of disruption.   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Frequent breaks should be offered.     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Depending on the amount of information     |                         |
| needed, an interview may need to be        |                         |
| divided and held in subsequent sessions.   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| > **However**, try not to break-up the     |                         |
| > interview if at all possible.            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Handout 8-6, Memorandum of Interviews can  |                         |
| be used to document interviews.            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Recording Interviews**                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| For complex investigation interviews, it   |                         |
| is best to record the interview. If an     |                         |
| interview is going to be recorded by audio |                         |
| or videotape, it should be with the        |                         |
| knowledge and consent of the witness and   |                         |
| should be transcribed and reviewed by the  |                         |
| witness so that a complete record of the   |                         |
| interview exists. Whenever an interview is |                         |
| taped, the tape becomes a part of the      |                         |
| accident investigation record.             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Recording Interviews (continued)**       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Digital recorders can hold hours of        |                         |
| recordings on them and are available with  |                         |
| many features that can be helpful to your  |                         |
| investigation. There are models that can   |                         |
| take the recording and download the        |                         |
| information to your computer.              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| There are services available that can      |                         |
| transcribe your recorded interviews. They  |                         |
| can be available for next day delivery as  |                         |
| a WORD document and you would have the     |                         |
| ability to copy and paste into the witness |                         |
| statement form.                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| There may be transcription services        |                         |
| available within the area that you have    |                         |
| been assigned. Contact your Safety Office  |                         |
| for additional information and sources.    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Recording of witness interviews can be     |                         |
| valuable to the team members that did not  |                         |
| participate in the interview. It can also  |                         |
| be helpful during the deliberation phase   |                         |
| of the investigation.                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| The investigator conducting the interview  |                         |
| should take notes during the interview for |                         |
| follow-up questions and documentation of   |                         |
| the interview.                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Investigators conducting interviews need   |                         |
| to inform witnesses that the purpose of    |                         |
| the interview is to obtain information for |                         |
| accident prevention **only** by the        |                         |
| accident investigation team.               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **However...**                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| > State that an assurance of               |                         |
| > confidentiality cannot be given.         |                         |
| >                                          |                         |
| > If employees are concerned the interview |                         |
| > may result in disciplinary action being  |                         |
| > taken against them, a request for Union  |                         |
| > representation may be made before or     |                         |
| > during the Interview ([Weingarten Right, |                         |
| > Handout (8-7]{.underline}) as stated in  |                         |
| > the Master Agreement.                    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Any time a representative is requested,    |                         |
| the interview will be discontinued until   |                         |
| representation is obtained.                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Employee Responsibility in Cooperating   |                         |
| with Accident Investigation**              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Employees are obligated to give            |                         |
| information they possess to authorized     |                         |
| representatives of the agency when called  |                         |
| upon, if the inquiry relates to official   |                         |
| matters and the information is obtained in |                         |
| the course of employment.                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Each agency has specific policies as it    |                         |
| relates to employee rights and             |                         |
| responsibilities in investigative          |                         |
| interviews.                                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **DOI Policy** (370 DM 752):               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Employee has the obligation to testify or  |                         |
| cooperate in connection with any           |                         |
| administrative investigation, inquiry, or  |                         |
| other proper proceeding (when criminal     |                         |
| charges are not anticipated).              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Failure to respond to requests for         |                         |
| information or to appear as a witness in   |                         |
| an official proceeding may result in       |                         |
| consideration of disciplinary action. Any  |                         |
| action is the responsibility of the        |                         |
| employing agency -- NOT by the SAIT.       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Should an employee refuse to cooperate, an |                         |
| intermediate step is to contact local unit |                         |
| agency administrator to counsel employee.  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Should employee continue to refuse to      |                         |
| cooperate, the                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Team Leader should contact the DASHO or    |                         |
| delegating official.                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Forest Service** Direction is contained  |                         |
| with                                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Handout 8-8:                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| This guidance provides information         |                         |
| regarding employee rights and              |                         |
| responsibilities for administrative        |                         |
| investigative interviews, of which an      |                         |
| accident (safety) investigation is a part  |                         |
| of.                                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Should an employee refuse to cooperate, do |                         |
| not continue to pursue the interview and   |                         |
| the Team Leader should contact the DASHO   |                         |
| or delegating official.                    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Beginning Interview**                    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| The interview begins by asking the         |                         |
| witnesses for their:                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   **name,**                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   **work address,**                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   **phone number,**                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   **position (job title),**              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   **Their location during the            |                         |
|     accident.**                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| The idea behind the questioning is to get  |                         |
| the witnesses to tell you everything they  |                         |
| know in their own words from beginning to  |                         |
| end without being influenced by either the |                         |
| question or by what they think you want to |                         |
| hear.                                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Other questions may include:               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   items from the history of events,      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   human factors,                         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   environmental factors,                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   material factors.                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Usually, it is advantageous to move from   |                         |
| general to specific questions.             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| One technique is to start with the known   |                         |
| (what you know) and go to the unknown.     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **SAMPLE WITNESS QUESTIONS**               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Handout 8-9 has examples of Sample         |                         |
| Questions that you may be useful to you.   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   What is your name, work address and    |                         |
|     phone number?                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   What is your duty station (location)   |                         |
|     and position (job title)?              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   What is your technical background,     |                         |
|     skills, or knowledge?                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Tell us, in your own words, what you   |                         |
|     were doing in the hours prior to the   |                         |
|     accident, what you saw of the accident |                         |
|     and what happened afterwards.          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   What is your connection with those     |                         |
|     involved in the accident?              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   What attracted your attention to the   |                         |
|     accident?                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   What was the position of the vehicle   |                         |
|     or equipment, and individual involved  |                         |
|     in the accident, when first seen?      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   What was the direction of travel,      |                         |
|     fall, or final resting place of the    |                         |
|     vehicle or equipment, and individual   |                         |
|     involved in the accident? (Have the    |                         |
|     witness draw a diagram, if             |                         |
|     appropriate).                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   What was the weather at the time of    |                         |
|     the accident? Was it clear & sunny?    |                         |
|     Was it rainy or smoky? What was the    |                         |
|     wind conditions (velocity, gusty)?     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   What actions did you take at the       |                         |
|     accident site?                         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Were there any other witnesses around? |                         |
|     Do the police have your witnesses'     |                         |
|     names?                                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **SAMPLE WITNESS QUESTIONS**               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **(continued)**                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Do you wear glasses or a hearing aid?  |                         |
|     What type? Did you have your glasses   |                         |
|     or hearing aid on?                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   What do you think was the main cause   |                         |
|     of the accident?                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Is there any additional information    |                         |
|     you would like to provide?             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   **Always close with: "If you think of  |                         |
|     any additional information that would  |                         |
|     help us in the investigation please    |                         |
|     contact us".**                         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| ```{=html}                                 |                         |
| <!-- -->                                   |                         |
| ```                                        |                         |
| -   **Let them know that if you have       |                         |
|     additional questions you may be        |                         |
|     contacting them again also?**          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEWS**              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Considerations that should be taken into |                         |
| account during the interview process       |                         |
| are:**                                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| In some instances, the witness may have to |                         |
| be taken to the accident site or crash     |                         |
| scene after the initial interview for      |                         |
| clarification of their statement.          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Avoid collective interviews (interviewing  |                         |
| more than one witness at a time.)          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| One team member should ask the questions.  |                         |
| Other members should only interrupt and    |                         |
| ask questions with the permission of the   |                         |
| interview lead.                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Do not prejudge a witness. Keep an open    |                         |
| mind. Be receptive to all information      |                         |
| regardless of its nature---be a good       |                         |
| listener.                                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEWS (continued)**  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Be serious. Maintain control of the        |                         |
| interview. Don't make promises you can't   |                         |
| keep. Avoid contemptuous attitudes. Avoid  |                         |
| controversial matters. Respect the         |                         |
| emotional state of the witness.            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Place the witness at ease. Explain the     |                         |
| purpose of the interview is for accident   |                         |
| prevention purposes and that you only seek |                         |
| the facts related to the accident.         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Make sure you read the witness's written   |                         |
| statement (if available) before the        |                         |
| interview.                                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Permit witnesses to tell the story in      |                         |
| their own words **DO NOT INTERRUPT**.      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Be a good listener. Be unobtrusive in note |                         |
| taking. Maintain self-control during       |                         |
| interviews. Don't become emotionally       |                         |
| involved in the investigation.             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| The interviewer should ask follow-up       |                         |
| questions of the witness. Investigation    |                         |
| team members should coordinate their       |                         |
| questions at the direction of the Chief    |                         |
| investigator. Do not assist the witness in |                         |
| answering questions.                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Avoid revealing to the witness conflicting |                         |
| statements or items discovered during the  |                         |
| interview.                                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **GENERAL QUESTIONS**                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| General questions are open-ended broad     |                         |
| questions that are useful in getting the   |                         |
| witness to talk. Examples are:             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   "What did you see?"                    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   "Tell me everything you can recall?"   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   "Tell me more about that?"             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **DIRECTED QUESTIONS**                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Directed questions address the subject in  |                         |
| a direct manner and gets the witness to    |                         |
| focus on a specific subject, without       |                         |
| guiding him/her to what he/she may have    |                         |
| seen, for example:                         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **SPECIFIC QUESTIONS**                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| "Did you notice any lights on the          |                         |
| vehicle?"                                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Specific questions are needed for specific |                         |
| information, for example:                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   "Did you notice any flashing lights?"  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   "What color was the light?"            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **SUMMARY QUESTIONS**                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Summary questions help the witness         |                         |
| organize his/her thoughts and draw         |                         |
| attention to possible additional           |                         |
| information.                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Restate what you think the witness told    |                         |
| you in your words and ask if that's        |                         |
| correct. Frequently, the witness will add  |                         |
| more information.                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **AVOID LEADING QUESTIONS**                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Avoid leading questions. A leading         |                         |
| question is one that contains or implies   |                         |
| the desired answer. Once you ask a leading |                         |
| question, you have forever frozen an idea  |                         |
| about what the witness is supposed to have |                         |
| seen, for example:                         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   "Was a red light flashing?"            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **TECHNIQUES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE           |                         |
| QUESTIONS**                                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Some interview techniques do not require   |                         |
| questions. A nod of your head or an        |                         |
| expectant pause may encourage the witness  |                         |
| to talk.                                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| To keep a witness talking, say something   |                         |
| like "uh-huh," "really," or "continue."    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Another non-question technique is to       |                         |
| mirror or echo what the witness says.      |                         |
| Repeat back to the witness what they have  |                         |
| just said without either agreeing or       |                         |
| disagreeing with them, such as, "You say   |                         |
| you saw smoke coming from the vehicle?"    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **PHYSICAL EVIDENCE COLLECTION AND         |                         |
| PRESERVATION**                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| The Chief Investigator must determine what |                         |
| evidence is fragile or perishable and may  |                         |
| be destroyed or lost due to weather or     |                         |
| theft, or moved, in order to protect       |                         |
| valuable evidence or equipment. This may   |                         |
| require increasing the security personnel, |                         |
| expanding the site security perimeter,     |                         |
| covering the site with plastic, obtaining, |                         |
| a secured facility, or carefully packing   |                         |
| and removing evidence.                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Evidence gathered during accident          |                         |
| investigations may be utilized in other    |                         |
| official proceedings and must be collected |                         |
| and processed correctly. An example would  |                         |
| be a human caused wildfire results in the  |                         |
| death of a firefighter. The evidence may   |                         |
| be used by law enforcement as part of a    |                         |
| criminal case against a third party.       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| If there is any sign of criminal activity  |                         |
| you need to temporarily stop the serious   |                         |
| accident investigation, secure evidence    |                         |
| and notify the agency DASHO or delegating  |                         |
| official who will notify the appropriate   |                         |
| law enforcement agencies. SAIT may         |                         |
| recommend to DASHO the need to continue    |                         |
| with a parallel investigation.             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **PHYSICAL EVIDENCE COLLECTION AND         |                         |
| PRESERVATION (continued)**                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| The Chief Investigator will establish:     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   What evidence needs to be gathered     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Procedures to be used                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Who will gather the evidence           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   The evidence and the chain of custody  |                         |
|     logs                                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Where the evidence should be stored    |                         |
|     and secured                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Physical evidence such as equipment and    |                         |
| parts, need to be "bagged and tagged" at   |                         |
| the time of collection.                    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| A bulldozer, for example, should be        |                         |
| properly identified and then secured and   |                         |
| stored.                                    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Consider the following precautions when    |                         |
| collecting evidence that may have, or have |                         |
| been exposed to body fluids :              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Team members and technical specialists |                         |
|     dealing with these items must follow   |                         |
|     their agencies protocols against blood |                         |
|     borne diseases.                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Protective latex gloves should be worn |                         |
|     when handling these items.             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Any clothing recovered with body       |                         |
|     fluids should be placed in biohazard   |                         |
|     waste bags.                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **PHYSICAL EVIDENCE COLLECTION AND         |                         |
| PRESERVATION (continued)**                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Organizational records pertaining to the   |                         |
| accident can include such items as:        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Risk Assessments /Job Hazard Analysis  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Training Records                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Qualifications and Certifications      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Time & Attendance Records              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Medical Records                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Employment Records                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Agency Policies                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Regulations                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Work Assignments                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Briefings                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Safety Meetings                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Test Results                           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Dispatch Logs                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   911 Logs                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Witness Statements                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Autopsy Toxicology Reports             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Handout 8-10 Evidence Log**              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Handout 8-11 Chain of Custody Log**      |                         |
+--------------------------------------------+-------------------------+