Abstract:
Predefined lists of selected variables are created and interrelated to produce incident reports. The lists are created and modified through the use of formatted computer screens or input forms, and the reports are produced through the use of formatted computer outputs or output formats. The lists include accident-related information such as industry types, occupations, safety teams, attendance codes, types of injuries, body parts affected, types of incidents, site conditions, accident causes and safety reminders. The input forms often correspond directly to the types of lists, so that there is a form through which the list of industry types is created and/or modified, and another form through which the list of occupations is created. In addition, there are input forms that allow creation and/or modification of several lists at one time, particularly when each element in one list is directly associated with one element from another list. The output formats include agency-related formats such as an OSHA (Occupational Safety &amp; Health Administration) No. 200 report, and statistical summaries used for managerial decision making. The statistical summaries may be textual or graphical, or a combination of textual and graphical.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/001,281 entitled &#34;INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM&#34; filed on Jul. 19, 1995. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to the organization, coordination and presentation of data related to workplace incidents such as accidents resulting in worker injuries. For example, the invention includes a method of prompting a user for information about the workplace such as employee identification, accident and injury classification, and educational and precautionary actions to be taken. The invention also includes a method of prompting a user for information necessary to complete accident reports of the type required by federal, state and local agencies, and reports useful for making managerial decisions about the workplace. The recording and reporting of statistics about such incidents is both necessary to comply with governmental regulations, and useful to evaluate and improve workplace safety. The present invention provides a system for the administration and support of the industry process known as light duty/restricted duty/recurrence of injury recording, analysis and reporting. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In the past, a myriad of paper and paperless forms have been developed and used to aid in this process. For example, OSHA (Occupational Safety &amp; Health Administration) form No. 200 is a fill-in-the-blanks form, with blanks for specific information about a given accident, such as the name of the injured, the type of injury, the severity of the injury and the extent of any resulting absence from work. While it is relatively simple for a user to complete the form, only the most experienced user is able to complete the form with any type of standardization. Furthermore, it is difficult to coordinate such standardization among disparate users, as is desirable in a large, multi-plant workplace. Computer databases have also been used to track employee information and accident statistics. However, no method has, prior to the present invention, interrelated predefined lists of the possible variables used in accident reporting to repeatably produce consistent accident reports, nor has any previously done so using a plurality of defined lists of such variables stored on a computer. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes predefined lists of selected variables, the methods of creating and interrelating such lists, and the methods of using such lists to produce incident reports. The lists are created and modified through the use of formatted computer screens, referred to herein as input forms, and the reports are produced through the use of formatted computer outputs, referred to herein as output formats. The lists include accident-related information such as industry types, occupations, safety teams, attendance codes, types of injuries, body parts affected, types of incidents, site conditions, accident causes and safety reminders. The input forms often correspond directly to the types of lists, so that there is a form through which the list of industry types is created and/or modified, and another form through which the list of occupations is created. In addition, there are input forms that allow creation and/or modification of several lists at one time, particularly when each element in one list is directly associated with one element from another list. The output formats include agency-related formats such as the OSHA 200 report discussed above, and statistical summaries used for managerial decision making. The statistical summaries may be textual or graphical, or a combination of textual and graphical. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1. is a conventional user workstation that may act as a hardware/firmware platform for the software of the present invention, including an accident reporting system and invented method and apparatus which forms a part thereof; 
     FIG. 2. is a control flow diagram of the software of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3. is an example of a form through which information is added to a list as part of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 4A-4B is an example of an OSHA 200 form produced by the present invention; 
     FIG. 5. is an example of a graphical accident analysis by nature of injury, produced by the present invention; 
     FIG. 6. is an example of a graphical accident analysis by type of accident, produced by the present invention; 
     FIG. 7. is an example of a graphical accident analysis by day of the week, produced by the present invention; 
     FIG. 8. is an example of a textual/graphical accident analysis showing the status of accident investigations, produced by the present invention; 
     FIG. 9. is an example of a textual report showing the vital statistics for employees, produced by the present invention; 
     FIG. 10. is an example of a textual accident analysis listing a synopsis of each accident by period, produced by the present invention; and 
     FIG. 11. is a data flow diagram of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 12-71 are illustrations from the operating instructions of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring first to FIG. 1, a user workstation is shown generally at 10, including a general-purpose computer typically providing a digital processor 12 containing an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and various registers typically including register stacks, scratchpad memories and accumulators. Skilled persons also will appreciate that the workstation also typically will provide computer memory such as mass data storage 14, e.g. a hard or flex disk drive 14a, 14b, or both, as well as a quantity of read-and-write semiconductor memory (RAM) 16 (shown in outline as residing within workstation 10 and its housing 18) in which application programs reside for execution by processor 12. Finally, skilled persons will appreciate that the workstation also typically will provide one or more user interfaces or display mediums such as a video display terminal (VDT) 20, a keyboard 22 and an associated display cursor control system 24 including, for example, a mouse or joystick 24a, 24b, or both. In addition to disk drives 14a and b, RAM 16 and VDT 20, other computer output mediums might be included such as printers, communication networks or other storage devices. All such conventional hardware, firmware and software-executing-on-a-hardware/firmware platform architectures for the accident report system of the present invention are contemplated, and all are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a highly simplified control flow diagram is shown of the software executed on user workstation(s) 10 of the present system. The software is preferably stored on mass data storage device 14, then loaded into RAM 16 by digital processor 12. The represented steps of displaying control panels, forms and reports are logical displays, generated by digital processor(s) 12 on one or more VDTs 20 at one or more user workstations 10. The user would then be able to review the information on VDTs 20 and modify the database(s) stored on mass storage device(s) 14. This is done through the use of input devices like keyboards 22 or display cursor control systems 24. 
     A step of system startup 26 includes a verification of database integrity by determining if any other users currently are attached to the database, and to verify that all required elements of the database are available. After startup 26, there is a check to determine if any recent incidents have occurred, at 28. If such an incident has occurred, then the incident form is accessed and displayed at 30. If there is no recent incident, or if review of such a recent incident is completed, control is then transferred to the main control panel 32, another logical display operated on by the user through keyboards 22 or display cursor control systems 24. 
     One option at control panel 32 is to check again to determine if there are any recent incidents by returning to step 28. A second option is to direct the operation of the program to selecting an input form, at 34. Once such an input form has been selected, it is displayed at 36. When the user is done reviewing the displayed form, another input form may be selected at 34. Alternatively, there is a return to the main control panel at 32. 
     A third option from the main control panel is to direct control to selecting a report format, at 38. A selected report format is displayed as indicated at 40, after which control is returned to selecting a report format at 38. As with selecting an input form at 34, control can now be returned to the main control panel at 32. 
     Cross-transfer of control is available from selecting an input format 32 directly to selecting a report format at 38, and vice versa, as shown. 
     A fourth transfer available from the main control panel at 32 is to import data at 42, from external databases, at 44. Similarly, control can be transferred from the main control panel at 32 to export data at 46, to external databases, at 48. 
     Each of the above steps usually requires access at 50 to the internal database(s) 52. This access is controlled to ensure system data integrity and confidentiality. Database 52 is preferably stored on mass storage devices 14 that are controlled and accessed through a single digital processor 12, with the step of controlling access being performed by this processor 12. Processor 12 may in turn be connected to other user work stations 10, for example through a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) or a modem. 
     For reference, database 52 could include a system database containing lists of entries or records that might be selected to describe any given incident, an incident database containing lists of records that describe specific incidents, or both. The system database might also be referred to as a company database, particularly when the database has been customized for a particular company. For example, database 52 might include information on the company address, parents or subsidiaries, employees or specific types of incidents expected in the company&#39;s operations. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, a sample input form is shown, including a screen image 54. Within screen image 54 there are insert-from-list fields at 56, which when selected with cursor control system 24 present a defined list of selectable variables from the system database. Cursor control 24 can then be operated to select one of such variables and to enter the selected variable into field 56. Next, there are direct-entry fields 58, into which the user inserts the requested information, using, for example, keyboard 22. Fields 56 may also provide for such direct entry of information. Screen image 54 further includes one or more control buttons 60, the selection of which, using cursor control 24, transfers control from the displayed form to a different form, report or control panel. Exiting screen image 54 causes the added or modified information from fields 56 and 58 to be written to incident database 52b. 
     An example of a completed OSHA 200 report is shown in FIG. 4. This report includes numerous rows 62 and columns 64 of information. The rows represent a record for a single incident, and the columns represent selected elements or entries from such records. 
     In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, graphical reports are shown, with the graph being indicated generally at 66, a key being indicated at 68, and summary of the scope of the report being indicated at 70. In FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, textual reports are shown with text fields at 72 and with graphical status indicators at 74. 
     It will be appreciated that the overall database structure can be accomplished in many different forms. For example, each of the lists referred to in more detail below could be stored in a separate file in either mass data storage device 14 or RAM 16, or several or all of the lists could be accumulated into a single file in such devices. Furthermore, the files could be stored on a variety of different storage media, or even distributed about either a local area network or a wide area network. Thus, reference herein to a system database as opposed to an incident database could be reference to the same file/storage device 14/16, or an intertwined assemblage of files/storage devices 14/16, whether closely or loosely associated. 
     The use of &#34;system&#34; and &#34;incident&#34; identifiers for databases 52a and 52b is not as a description of a particular database structure, but as a description of the relationship of one type of list of records to another. The system database includes a plurality of defined lists of system records of selected variables and a plurality of defined report formats for producing selected incident reports. The selected variables define possible aspects of a given incident, such as the body part injured. By pre-defining the variables, completion of incident reports is standardized. For example, a human arm can also be referred to as an upper limb or an upper extremity, detailed to include the forearm, elbow and upper arm, or described using specific tissues or bones. If the list of body parts includes a record listing &#34;ARM,&#34; then the user need only select this record, and need not deliberate as to whether the proper description would be one of the above-discussed alternatives. The selecting of a specific record also includes the automatic step of extracting the selected record from the system database for manipulation and/or use in a different record. 
     The incident database includes one or more defined lists of incident records of data, each incident record describing one or more aspects of a specific incident. Using the present invention, each incident record would normally contain one or more elements that were extracted and/or manipulated from the system database, as discussed above. Thus, each incident record would be standardized, regardless of who entered the information into the incident record. 
     The use of the system database to complete a record in the incident database also allows for the efficient creation of a more complete record. For example, when an incident occurs, all that may be known is the name of the injured worker and a simple description of what happened. By accessing the system database using that worker&#39;s name alone, additional information can be inserted automatically into the incident record, such as the worker&#39;s address, social security number, insurer, manager or special medical issues. Furthermore, the selection of a specific type of incident from a predefined list may automatically insert into the incident record a list of suggested corrective actions, follow-up procedures or reporting requirements. In addition, such selection might automatically generate a message for communication to a predefined list of other affected workers about the accident, and about how to avoid further accidents. 
     A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a direct comparison of the incident for which the user is viewing or modifying the information in the incident database to previously recorded incident records. For example, when a manager is inputting the initial information about an incident caused by constricted space, if there are other incidents already recorded in which constricted space was a contributing cause, the number of these similar, earlier incidents would be displayed on the incident input form. This immediate feedback is helpful in highlighting and identifying possible corrective steps to prevent the occurrence of yet further accidents. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the system/incident database(s) include at least the following lists of records: LIST OF DATABASES, INPUT FORMS, INPUT FORM DESCRIPTIONS, REPORT FORMATS, REPORT FORMAT DESCRIPTIONS, PARENTS/SUBSIDIARIES, COMPANY INFORMATION, INDUSTRY TYPES, LOCATIONS, OCCUPATIONS, DEPARTMENTS, SAFETY TEAMS, HOLIDAYS, EMPLOYEES, ATTENDANCE, ABSENCE CODES, HOSPITALS, ACCIDENTS, NATURE OF INJURY, BODY PARTS, INCIDENT TYPE, CONDITIONS, CAUSES, FED/STATE AGENCIES, AGENCY RECORDINGS, AWARENESS CODES, TRAINING CLASSES, TRAINING INTERVALS, TRAINING ROSTERS, TRAINING TESTS, TEST RESULTS and SAFETY REMINDERS. 
     The preferred data record structure of some of the lists of the system database are demonstrated by tables 1-3. 
     
                       TABLE 1______________________________________List of Fields For Import/Export Purposes-Company Setup#   Field Name    Description      Data Type______________________________________1.  Company Name  Company Name     Text2.  Address #1    Address 1 of Company                              Text3.  Address #2    Address 2 of Company                              Text4.  City          Company City     Text5.  State         Company State    Text6.  Zip           Company Zip      Text7.  County        Company County   Text8.  Phone         Company Phone    Text9.  Fed ID Number Employer&#39;s FEIN  Number10. Plant/Location #             Company&#39;s Plant and                              Text             Location No.11. Primary Contact             Primary Contact w/Company                              Text12. Secondary Contact             Second Company Contact                              Text13. General Mgr or             General Manager or President                              Text    President     of Co.14. General Nature of             General Nature of Business                              Text    Business15. Primary Hospital             Primary-Use Hospital for Co.                              Text16. # Accidents To-Date             No. of Accidents To-Date                              Number17. # Employees Enrolled             No. of Employees Enrolled                              Number    To-Date       To-Date18. Avg Length of Average Length of                              Number    Employment    Employment19. State of Operatoin             State of Operation                              Text20. Corp Type -   CB/Corporation Type of                              Yes/No    Corporation   Corporation21. Corp Type -   CB/Partnership Type of                              Yes/No    Partnership   Corporation22. Corp Type - Other             CB/Other Type of Yes/No             Corporation23. Ins Co        Insurance Co. Name                              Text24. Ins Address1  Insurance Co. Address1                              Text25. Ins Address2  Insurance Co. Address2                              Text26. Ins City      Insurance Co. City                              Text27. Ins State     Insurance Co. State                              Text28. Ins Zip       Insurance Co. Zip                              Text29. Ins Phone     Insurance Co. Phone                              Text30. Ins Division1 Insurance Co. Division1                              Text31. Ins Division2 Insurance Co. Division2                              Text32. Ins Division3 Insurance Co. Division3                              Text33. Co Logo       Company&#39;s Logo   OLE Object______________________________________ Note: The file you are importing must include all of the above listed columns i the order and data types. If your file does not originally have all of these fields (which it probably won&#39;t), you will need to make a &#34;SPACER&#34; column for each one that is missing and insert them in the correct position. This &#34;SPACER&#34; function will be much easier if you are importing a spreadsheet file, than if you are importing an ASCII text file. Remember, even if your file is an ASCII text file, you can open that text file in Excel or Lotus and use the &#34;Parse&#34; function to separate the information into organized columns. Then import the completed files. 
    
     
                       TABLE 2______________________________________List of Fields For Import/Export Purposes-Master Names#    Field Name          Description          Data Type______________________________________1.   ID        Employee ID          Counter2.   LAST      Employee&#39;s Last Name Text3.   FIRST     Employee&#39;s First Name                               Text4.   SSN       Employee&#39;s Social Security Number                               Number5.   Birthday  Employee&#39;s Date of Birth                               Date/Time6.   LOE       Employee&#39;s Length of Employment                               Text7.   ADJ       Employee&#39;s ADJ       Date/Time8.   Address   Employee&#39;s Address   Text9.   City      Employee&#39;s City      Text10.  State     Employee&#39;s State     Text11.  Zip       Employee&#39;s Zip       Number12.  PHONE     Employee&#39;s Phone     Text13.  DEPT      Employee&#39;s Department No.                               Text14.  Dept Name Employee&#39;s Dept Name Text15.  Company   Company Name         Text16.  Locale    Location of Company  Text17.  HrlyRate  Employee Hourly Wage Number18.  Occupation          Employee&#39;s Occupation                               Text19.  TeamCode  Employee&#39;s Team Code Text20.  TeamName  Employee&#39;s Teamt Name                               Text______________________________________ Note: The file you are, importing must include all of the above listed columns in the order and data types. If your file does not originally have all of these fields (which it probably won&#39;t), you will need to make a &#34;SPACER&#34; column for each one that is missing and insert them in the correct position. This &#34;SPACER&#34; function will be much easier if you are importing a spreadsheet file, than if you are importing an ASCII text file. Remember, even if your file is an ASCII text file, you can open that text file in Excel or Lotus and use the &#34;Parse&#34; function to separate the information into organized columns. Then import the completed files. 
    
     
                       TABLE 3______________________________________List of Fields For Import/Export Purposes-Injury Reminder#      Field Name  Description     Data Type______________________________________1.     Accident Type              Type of Accident                              Text2.     Reminder    Reminder of Accident                              Memo______________________________________ Note: The file you are importing must include all of the above listed columns i the order and data types. If your file does not originally have all of these fields (which it probably won&#39;t), you will need to make a &#34;SPACER&#34; column for each one that is missing and insert them in the correct position. This &#34;SPACER&#34; function will be much easier if you are importing a spreadsheet file, than if you are importing an ASCII text file. Remember, even if your file is an ASCII text file, you can open that text file in Excel or Lotus and use the &#34;Parse&#34; function to separate the information into organized columns. Then import the completed files. 
    
     The preferred data record structures of some of the lists of the incident database are demonstrated by tables 4-6. 
     
                       TABLE 4______________________________________List of Fields For Import/Export Purposes-Accident Form#   Field Name    Description      Data Type______________________________________1.  ID            Accident ID      Counter2.  Last          Employee Last Name                              Text3.  First         Employee First Name                              Text4.  Company       Company Name     Text5   Locale        Co. Plant Location                              Text6.  Department    Department Number                              Text7.  Dept Name     Department Name  Text8.  Phone         Employee Phone Number                              Text9.  DOB           Employee Date of Birth                              Text10. Sex Male      Check Box/Employee&#39;s Sex-                              Yes/No             Male11. Sex Female    Check Box/Employee&#39;s Sex-                              Yes/No             Female12. SSN           Employee Social Security                              Text             Number13. Address       Employee Address Text14. City          Employee City    Text15. State         Employee State   Text16. Zip           Employee Zip     Number17. LOE           Employee Length of                              Text             Employment18. Hired         Date Employee Hired                              Text19. Hospitalized  Check Box/Was Employee                              Yes/No             Hospitalized20. Hospital Name Name of Hospital Emp. was                              Text             taken to21. Date of Injury             Date Injury Occurred                              Date/Time22. Time of Injury             Time Injury Occurred                              Date/Time23. Time in Dept  Time Employee&#39;s been in                              Text             Dept24. Name of Physician             Emp. Treating Physician                              Text25. Body Part     Part of Employee Body that                              Text             was Injured26. Body Part - Left             Check Box/Left side of Emp.                              Yes/No             Body27. Body Part - Right             Check Box/Right side of                              Yes/No             Emp. Body28. Injured Previously             CB/Had Emp. Injured Body                              Yes/No             Part Before29. Nature of Injury             Nature of Employee&#39;s Injury                              Text30. Cause         Cause of Employee&#39;s Injury                              Text31. Condition     Condition that Contributed to                              Text             Injury32. Accident Type What Type of Accident                              Text             Caused Injury33. Accident Description             Description of the Accident                              Memo34. Corrective Action             What Corrective Action                              Memo    Taken         Taken35. Date Corrective Action             Date the Corrective Action                              Date/Time    Taken         was Taken36. Witness       Witness of the Accident                              Text37. Date Company Knew             Date that Company First                              Date/Time             Knew of Acc.38. Street Address of             Address Where Accident                              Text    Accident      Occurred39. Nature of Business             Nature of Business                              Text40. County of Injury             County where Injury Occurred                              Text41. Emp Worker Status -             Check Box -      Yes/No    Yes42. Emp Worker Status -             Check Box -      Yes/No    No43. Emp Occupation             Occupation of Emplooyee                              Text44. Length of Employment             Length of Time Emp. Worked                              Date/Time             for Co.45. Injured on Premises -             CB/Was Emp Injured on                              Yes/No    Yes           Premises - Yes46. Injured on Premises -             CB/Was Emp Injured on                              Yes/No    No            Premises - No47. Fatality      CB/Was Accident a Fatality                              Yes/No48. Injured on Job - Yes             CB/Did Injury Occur on the                              Yes/No             Job - Yes49. Injured on Job - No             CB/Did Injury Occur on the                              Yes/No             Job - No50. Injured on Job -             CB/Injury Occur on the                              Yes/No    Unknown       Job - Unknown51. Other Workers Injured             CB/Were Other Workers                              Yes/No             Injured52. Accident Result of             CB/Acc. a Result of Machine                              Yes/No    Machine Failure             Failure53. Accident Caused by             CB/Acc. Caused by Someone                              Yes/No    Someone Else  Else54. Company Accident             Company&#39;s Description of                              Memo    Description   Accident55. 801 OSHA To Be             CB/Is 801 OSHA to be Filed                              Yes/No    Filed?56. Previous Injury             Description of Previous Injury                              Text    Description57. Shift Start   Beginning of Employee&#39;s                              Date/Time             Shift58. Shift End     End of Employee&#39;s Shift                              Date/Time59. Date Worker Left             Date Employee Left Work                              Date/Time60. Time Worker Left             Time Employee Left Work                              Date/Time61. Date Worker Returned             Date Worker Returned From                              Date/Time             Disability62. Number Hrs Per Shift             Number Hrs Employee Works                              Number             Per Shift63. Days Worked - 3             CB/Emp. Reg. Works less                              Yes/No    or less       then 3 days64. Days Worked - 4             CB/Emp. Reg. Works 4 days                              Yes/No65. Days Worked - 5             CB/Emp. Reg. Works 5 days                              Yes/No66. Days Worked - 6             CB/Emp. Reg. Works 6 days                              Yes/No67. Days Worked - 7             CB/Emp. Reg. Works 7 days                              Yes/No68. Days Off - Sat             CB/Emp. Reg. Days Off - Sat                              Yes/No69. Days Off - Sun             CB/Emp. Reg. Days Off - Sun                              Yes/No70. Days Off - Mon             CB/Emp. Reg. Days Off -                              Yes/No             Mon71. Days Off - Tue             CB/Emp. Reg. Days Off - Tue                              Yes/No72. Days Off - Wed             CB/Emp. Reg. Days Off -                              Yes/No             Wed73. Days Off - Thurs             CB/Emp. Reg. Days Off -                              Yes/No             Thurs74. Days Off - Fri             CB/Emp. Reg. Days Off - Fri                              Yes/No75. Wage          Employee&#39;s Current Wage                              Number76. Wage - Hr     CB/Emp. Wage Per Hour                              Yes/No77. Wage - Wk     CB/Emp. Wage Per Week                              Yes/No78. Wage - Day    CB/Emp. Wage Per Day                              Yes/No79. Wage - Mo     CB/Emp. Wage Per Month                              Yes/No80. Wage - Yr     CB/Emp. Wage Per Year                              Yes/No81. DirectMedical Direct Medical Costs to                              Currency             Company82. AdminCosts    Administration Costs to                              Currency             Company83. EmpCompCosts  Employer Contribution                              Currency84. TotalCompCosts             Total Compensation Costs By                              Currency             Company85. EstLongTermCosts             Estimated Long Term Costs                              Currency             to Company86. TeamCode      Team Code        Text87. TeamName      Team Name        Text______________________________________ Note: The file you are importing must include all of the above listed columns i the order and data types. If your file does not originally have all of these fields (which it probably won&#39;t), you will need to make a &#34;SPACER&#34; column for each one that is missing and insert them in the correct position. This &#34;SPACER&#34; function will be much easier if you are importing a spreadsheet file, than if you are importing an ASCII text file. Remember, even if your file is an ASCII text file, you can open that text file in Excel or Lotus and use the &#34;Parse&#34; function to separate the information into organized columns. Then import the completed files. 
    
     
                       TABLE 5______________________________________List of Fields For Import/Export Purposes-OSHA AccExport#   Field Name    Description      Data Type______________________________________1.  Last          Employee Last Name                              Text2.  First         Employee First Name                              Text3.  Name          Employee Name    Text4   ID            Accident ID      Counter5.  Department    Department Number                              Text6.  Dept Name     Department Name  Text7   Phone         Employee Phone Number                              Text8.  DOB           Employee Date of Birth                              Text9.  Sex Male      Check Box/Employee&#39;s Sex-                              Yes/No             Male10. Sex Female    Check Box/Employee&#39;s Sex-                              Yes/No             Female11. SSN           Employee Social Security                              Text             Number12. Address       Employee Address Text13. City          Employee City    Text14. State         Employee State   Text15. Zip           Employee Zip     Number16. LOE           Employee Length of                              Text             Employment17. Hired         Date Employee Hired                              Text18. Hospitalized  Check Box/Was Employee                              Yes/No             Hospitalized19. Hospital Name Name of Hospital Emp. was                              Text             taken to20. Date of Injury             Date Injury Occurred                              Date/Time21. Month         Month            Text22. Time of Injury             Time Injury Occurred                              Date/Time23. Time in Dept  Time Employee&#39;s been in                              Text             Dept24. Name of Physician             Emp. Treating Physician                              Text25. Body Part     Part of Employee Body that                              Text             was Injured26. Body Part - Left             Check Box/Left side of Emp.                              Yes/No             Body27. Body Part - Right             Check Box/Right side of                              Yes/No             Emp. Body28. Injured Previously             CB/Had Emp. Injured Body                              Yes/No             Part Before29. Nature of Injury             Nature of Employee&#39;s Injury                              Text30. Cause         Cause of Employee&#39;s Injury                              Text31. Condition     Condition that Contributed to                              Text             Injury32. Accident Type What Type of Accident                              Text             Caused Injury33. Accident Description             Description of the Accident                              Memo34. Corrective Action             What Corrective Action                              Memo    Taken         Taken35. Date Corrective Action             Date the Corrective Action                              Date/Time    Taken         was Taken36. Witness       Witness of the Accident                              Text37. Date Company Knew             Date that Company First                              Date/Time             Knew of Acc.38. Street Address of             Address Where Accident                              Text    Accident      Occurred39. Nature of Business             Nature of Business                              Text40. County of Injury             County where Injury Occurred                              Text41. Emp Worker Status -             Check Box -      Yes/No    Yes42. Emp Worker Status -             Check Box -      Yes/No    No43. Emp Occupation             Occupation of Emplooyee                              Text44. Length of Employment             Length of Time Emp. Worked                              Date/Time             for Co.45. Injured on Premises -             CB/Was Emp Injured on                              Yes/No    Yes           Premises - Yes46. Injured on Premises -             CB/Was Emp Injured on                              Yes/No    No            Premises - No47. Fatality      CB/Was Accident a Fatality                              Yes/No48. Injured on Job - Yes             CB/Did Injury Occur on the                              Yes/No             Job - Yes49. Injured on Job - No             CB/Did injury Occur on the                              Yes/No             Job - No50. Injured on Job -             CB/Injury Occur on the Job -                              Yes/No    Unknown       Unknown51. Other Workers Injured             CB/Were Other Workers                              Yes/No             Injured52. Accident Result of             CB/Acc. a Result of Machine                              Yes/No    Machine Failure             Failure53. Accident Caused by             CB/Acc. Caused by Someone                              Yes/No    Someone Else  Else54. Company Accident             Company&#39;s Description of                              Memo    Description   Accident55. 801 OSHA To Be             CB/Is 801 OSHA to be Filed                              Yes/No    Filed?56. Previous Injury             Description of Previous Injury                              Text    Description57. Shift Start   Beginning of Employee&#39;s                              Date/Time             Shift58. Shift End     End of Employee&#39;s Shift                              Date/Time59. Date Worker Left             Date Employee Left Work                              Date/Time60. Time Worker Left             Time Employee Left Work                              Date/Time61. Date Worker Returned             Date Worker Returned From                              Date/Time             Disability62. Number Hrs Per Shift             Number Hrs Employee Works                              Number             Per Shift63. Days Worked - 3 or             CB/Emp. Reg. Works less                              Yes/No    less          then 3 days64. Days Worked - 4             CB/Emp. Reg. Works 4 days                              Yes/No65. Days Worked - 5             CB/Emp. Reg. Works 5 days                              Yes/No66. Days Worked - 6             CB/Emp. Reg. Works 6 days                              Yes/No67. Days Worked - 7             CB/Emp. Reg. Works 7 days                              Yes/No68. Days Off - Sat             CB/Emp. Reg. Days Off - Sat                              Yes/No69. Days Off - Sun             CB/Emp. Reg. Days Off - Sun                              Yes/No70. Days Off - Mon             CB/Emp. Reg. Days Off -                              Yes/No             Mon71. Days Off - Tue             CB/Emp. Reg. Days Off - Tue                              Yes/No72. Days Off - Wed             CB/Emp. Reg. Days Off -                              Yes/No             Wed73. Days Off - Thurs             CB/Emp. Reg. Days Off -                              Yes/No             Thurs74. Days Off - Fri             CB/Emp. Reg. Days Off - Fri                              Yes/No75. Wage          Employee&#39;s Current Wage                              Number76. Wage - Hr     CB/Emp. Wage Per Hour                              Yes/No77. Wage - Wk     CB/Emp. Wage Per Week                              Yes/No78. Wage - Day    CB/Emp. Wage Per Day                              Yes/No79. Wage - Mo     CB/Emp. Wage Per Month                              Yes/No80. Wage - Yr     CB/Emp. Wage Per Year                              Yes/No81. DirectMedical Direct Medical Costs to                              Currency             Company82. EmpCompCosts  Employer Contribution                              Currency83. EstLongTermCosts             Estimated Long Term Costs to                              Currency             Company84. TotalCompCosts             Total Compensation Costs By                              Currency             Company85. AdminCosts    Administration Costs to                              Currency             Company86. Locale        Co. Plant Location                              Text87. Company       Company Name     Text88. TeamCode      Team Code        Text89. TeamName      Team Name        Text______________________________________ Note: The file you are importing must include all of the above listed columns i the order and data types. If your file does not originally have all of these fields (which it probably won&#39;t), you will need to make a &#34;SPACER&#34; column for each one that is missing and insert them in the correct position. This &#34;SPACER&#34; function will be much easier if you are importing a spreadsheet file, than if you are importing an ASCII text file. Remember, even if your file is an ASCII text file, you can open that text file in Excel or Lotus and use the &#34;Parse&#34; function to separate the information into organized columns. Then import the completed files. 
    
     
                       TABLE 6______________________________________List of Fields For Import/Export Purposes-SOS Form Data#   Field Name      Description     Data Type______________________________________1.  ReportID        Report ID       Text2.  IncidentID      Incident ID (Auto Counter)                               Counter3.  Last            Last Name       Text4.  First           First Name      Text5.  AffectedPerson  Affected Person Text6.  WeyerEmp        Is this an Employee?                               Yes/No7.  NonEmp          Is this a Non-Employee                               Yes/No8.  Company         Company Name    Text9.  Locale          Plant/Location #                               Text10. Department      Employee Department                               Text               Code11. Dept Name       Employee Department                               Text               Name12. MailStop        Employee Mail Stop                               Text13. ReportType      Report Type     Text14. DOB             Date of Birth   Text15. Sex Male        Is the employee Male?                               Yes/No16. Sex Female      Is the employee Female?                               Yes/No17. SSN             Social Security Number                               Text18. Address         Date Employee Hired                               Text19. City            Check Box/Was Employee                               Text               Hospitalized20. State           Name of Hospital Emp.                               Text               was taken to21. Zip             Date Injury Occurred                               Text22. LOE             Time Injury Occurred                               Number23. Hired           Time Employee&#39;s been in                               Text               Dept24. DateOfIncident  Emp. Treating Physician                               Date/Time25. Time of Incident               Part of Employee Body that                               Date/Time               was Injured26. Time in Dept    Check Box/Left side of                               Date/Time               Emp. Body27. Location        Check Box/Right side of                               Text               Emp. Body28. Nature of Injury               CB/Had Emp. Injured Body                               Text               Part Before29. IncidentType    Nature of Employee&#39;s                               Text               Injury30. IncidentCode    Cause of Employee&#39;s                               Text               Injury31. InjuryCode      Condition that Contributed                               Text               to Injury32. Cause           What Type of Accident                               Text               Caused Injury33. Condition       Description of the Accident                               Text34. ConditionCode   What Corrective Action                               Text               Taken35. Accident Type   Date the Corrective Action                               Text               was Taken36. Accident Description               Witness of the Accident                               Text37. Corrective      Date that Company First                               Memo    ActionTaken     Knew of Acc.38. Corrective      Address Where Accident                               Yes/No    ActionDescription               Occurred39. DateCorrectiveActionTaken               Nature of Business                               Memo40. Witness         County where Injury                               Date/Time               Occurred41. DateReceived    Check Box -     Date/Time42. DateReplied     Check Box -     Date/Time43. ProjectedCompleteDate               Occupation of Emplooyee                               Date/Time44. DateCompleted   Length of Time Emp.                               Text               Worked for Co.45. AcknowledgedBy  CB/Was Emp Injured on                               Memo               Premises - Yes46. AcknowledgeNotes               CB/Was Emp Injured on                               Yes/No               Premises - No47. Response-Yes/Completed               CB/Was Accident a Fatality                               Yes/No48. Response-Yes/TBI               CB/Did Injury Occur on the                               Yes/No               Job - Yes49. Response-Pending               CB/Did Injury Occur on the                               Yes/No               Job - No50. Response-No     CB/Injury Occur on the                               Yes/No               Job - Unknown51. Response-Other  CB/Were Other Workers                               Yes/No               Injured52. SupervisorInvolved               CB/Acc. a Result of                               Text               Machine Failure53. SupervisorName  CB/Acc. Caused by Some-                               Yes/No               one Else54. FurtherActionNeeded               Company&#39;s Description of                               Memo               Accident55. FurtherActionSugg               CB/Is 801 OSHA to be                               Text               Filed56. InvestigationAssignedTo               Description of Previous                               Text               Injury57. IncidentLocation               Beginning of Employee&#39;s                               Text               Shift58. PreventativeAction               End of Employee&#39;s Shift                               Text59. RecommendedActionDate               Date Employee Left Work                               Date/Time60. ActualActionApproved               Time Employee Left Work                               Memo61. CorrectiveActionAssigned               Date Worker Returned                               Text               From Disability62. WorkOrderNo     Number Hrs Employee                               Number               Works Per Shift______________________________________ 
    
     It will be appreciated that the physical data structure in storage device 14 or RAM may take any suitable form, such as inline or multidimensional arrays, indexed arrays, or indexed tables. 
     To better explain the system and methods of the present invention, the operating instructions of a preferred embodiment of the invention are incorporated below: 
     Given the above description of the present invention, it can be seen that it includes a data flow as shown in FIG. 11. Specifically, a system database creator/modifier 76 operates on system database 52a to create or modify system database 52a. Creator/modifier 76 includes an input form selector 78 that accesses database 52a and, through VDT 20 and keyboard 22/display cursor control system 24, allows the user to select an input form for display on VDT 20. Once such an input form is selected by selector 78, an input form formatter 80, operating in digital processor 12, formats the selected form for display on VDT 20. The selected is then displayed on VDT 20, and a system record editor 82, through keyboard 22 and display cursor control systems 24, allows a user to select specific records for viewing and editing through the selected form, and input new records using the selected form. 
     An incident database creator/modifier is shown at 84, again operating through digital processor 12. A system record extractor 86 extracts predefined records from system database 52a, after which a system information extractor 88, operating through VDT 20, keyboard 22 and/or display cursor control system 24, extracts predefined information from the selected records, and allows the user to specify specific information for extraction. An incident record selector 90 operates on incident database 52b, either before, while or after the system records and information are extracted at 86 and 88, to select a specific incident record for viewing or modification or creation. This viewing, modification or creation is performed by an incident record editor 92, operating through digital processor 12, RAM 16, VDT 20, keyboard 22 and/or display cursor control system 24. Once the selected incident records are edited, the information is rewritten to incident database 52b. 
     A report generator is shown at 94, again operating through digital processor 12. Generator 94 includes a report format selector 96 that accesses system database 52a, and through VDT 20, keyboard 22 and/or display cursor control system 24, allows a user to select a defined report format. Once the report format is selected, a report formatter 98 accesses and extracts information specified in the selected format from database 52, including system database 52a and incident database 52b, and manipulates the information to create a completed report. The completed report is then produced through a computer output medium at 100, such as a printer. 
     From the forgoing identification of the components of the present invention, the following methods and systems are included within the scope of the invention. 
     A computer-implemented process of reporting safety information stored in computer memory is controlled by one or more user workstations 10. The process includes the step of creating a system database 52a stored in computer memory 14/16, database 52a including a plurality of defined lists of entries for selected variables and a plurality of defined formats for selected reports. The defined lists include information such as a defined list of employees and a defined list of types of incidents. The defined formats include reports such as OSHA report 200 and DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) accident reports. 
     The process also includes the step of creating an incident database 52b stored in computer memory 14/16 by selecting an record from one or more of the defined lists in system database 52a and inserting the selected entry or entries into a data record. This step can include or be concurrent with the steps of accessing previously created incident records, selecting ones of such records to match information inserted into the current incident record, and displaying on the selected form information comparing the current record to the selected ones of the previously created records. 
     The process further includes the step of creating an incident report by selecting one of the defined formats from system database 52a, extracting and manipulating information from incident database 52b as defined in the selected format from system database 52a, and producing the report on a computer output medium such as VDT 20. 
     Viewed somewhat differently, the invention includes a computer-assisted process of reporting safety information stored in computer memory. This process includes the step of creating a company database stored in computer memory 14/16. The company database includes a defined list of employees and a defined list of types of incidents. The process also includes the steps of selecting an employee from the company database, selecting a type of incident from the company database, and creating an incident database stored in computer memory by inserting the selected employee and type of incident into a data record. The process next includes the steps of formatting the incident database into a report and producing the report on a computer output medium. 
     Viewed still differently, the invention includes a computer-aided process of producing incident reports, the process comprising the step of creating a system database 52a stored in computer memory 14/16. System database 52a includes a plurality of defined lists of entries for selected variables and a plurality of defined formats for selected incident reports. The process further comprises the step of creating, an incident database 52b stored in computer memory 14/16 by selecting an entry from one or more of the defined lists in system database 52a, and inserting the selected entry or entries into a data record. The process further comprises the step of creating an incident report, by selecting one of the defined formats from system database 52a, extracting and manipulating information from incident database 52b as defined in the selected format, and producing the report on a computer output medium. 
     Described differently, the invention includes an incident reporting system 10. The reporting system comprises a system database 52a stored in computer memory 14/16, including a plurality of defined lists of system records of selected variables, and a plurality of defined report formats for producing selected incident reports. A system record selector 86 is provided for selecting one or more of the defined system records, and an information extractor 88 is provided for extracting one or more elements from the selected system record. 
     The reporting system 10 further comprises an incident database 52b stored in computer memory 14/16, including one or more defined lists of incident records of data. Each incident record describes one or more aspect of a specific incident, and may contain one or more of the extracted elements from system database 52a. A report format selector 96 is provided for selecting one or more of the defined report formats, and a report formatter 98 is provided for extracting and manipulating information from incident database 52b as defined in the selected report format. The reporting system 10 further comprises a computer output medium through which the extracted and manipulated information is produced in the selected report format. 
     Reporting system 10 further comprises an input form database 52a2/52b2 including a plurality of defined input forms for prompting a user for input to system/incident database 52. An input form selector 78 is provided for selecting one or more of the defined input forms, and an input form formatter 80 is provided for extracting and manipulating information from system database 52a as defined in the selected input form. A user interface is provided for displaying the selected input form and allowing a user to input information into one or more records of one or more lists of system database 52a through the selected input form. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention is particularly applicable to the administration and support of the industry process known as light duty/restricted duty/recurrence of injury recording, analysis and reporting.